The 9th annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in Redding was held Saturday. Thanks to the Missing in America Project, our heroes who were left behind are brought home to their final resting place. “You are not forgotten’ is the MIAP motto for the remains of veterans left behind.
The purpose of the MIAP is a nationwide effort to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed remains of forgotten veterans. This is done through supported efforts of private, state and federal organizations. The MIAP provides honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. The ceremony is sacred and carried out with love and true compassion for those who are forgotten. Saturday, at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, 20 remains were interred. One family member was on hand of the 18 cremated heroes, ( two were spouses).
It’s a beautiful thing the MIAP does for our forgotten and unclaimed veteran heroes. Vietnam Veterans local 357 hosts the annual event, along with the American Legion. As each cremation was brought into the chapel, it was saluted and placed on the left half of the table at the front of the room. The other half of the table was left empty to remember and honor Shasta County’s 47 who were killed in Vietnam. Various speakers took turns reading names of those interred, including the 47 Shasta County Vietnam Veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War.
As each name was read, that hero received another salute to the ringing of the bell. The one family member present was a recipient of the flag. The ceremony was heartfelt as each forgotten hero was remembered and entered into their final, beloved, and honorable resting place.
