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Veterans' Day: Vietnam Vets Bring New Meaning to Old Day

By Sukie Wachtendonk

On November 11, 1985, the Madison Chapter of VVAW held its annual Veterans Day ceremony in the state Capitol Rotunda.

The unique ceremony paid tribute to all who have served in wars and strongly emphasized wars' effects on people's lives, the consequences to individuals, families, communities and the nation as a whole.

Over the past three years, since its inception, the VVAW ceremony at the Capital had developed its own traditions, which have been appreciated by vets and civilians alike for their originality and the dramatic effect on the participants. To the beat of a drum an honor guard of four veterans enters the Rotunda, half stepping, carrying a stretcher. A green body bog lies atop the litter. A woman follows the body bad, solemnly carrying a folded American flag. The little is placed in the middle of the Rotunda for all to view and absorb. The flag is unfolded and carefully draped over the body bag, and the ceremony begins.

A large candle is lighted behind the flag-draped litter, to remember those who, while serving, lost their lives or pieces of their bodies or minds forever. The lighted candle also symbolized the hop that we hold for each MIA & POW, the hope that not another family will ever have to suffer knowing that a loved one is missing or a prisoner or war; and to symbolize the hope that the day may come when there will be no more veterans and nor more wars, forever.

Poetry, letters and reflections of people who were in some way touched by war were read; they included Chief Joseph's surrender speech from the Indian wars; a letter from a surviving child of Hiroshima, read by a 3rd grade student; letters from German soldiers in Stalingrad relayed by a World War II combat veteran. Poetry and letters from combat nurses and active-duty GI's to families back home brought nods, bowed heads and tears from those in attendance. Letters to parents about dead sons, poetry from wives to veteran husbands, all brought home the tremendous grief and loss suffered by those touched by war. One of the final readings was a letter written by a GI in Lebanon; it had arrived one day after his body was sent home to his family.

Interspersed throughout the ceremony was soft, lifting music provided by Muriel Hogan performing "Fields or Flanders," and Joe McDonald, doing the haunting "Colors for Susan", written in loving memory of those who have died. Joe also performed "War Hero" which contributed greatly in setting the mood and the message of our ceremony.

Silently the honor guard moves toward the flag-draped body bag and the flag bearer unfurls a black taffeta drape, which is placed over the bag. Taps echoes throughout the rotunda and the honor guard raise red roses in clenched fists in final salute to America's war dead. The honor guard turns and places their roses on the flag as Jim Wachtendonk begins the familiar words of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone." Participants, who have filled the Rotunda, flow past the litter singing, some crying, to place the flowers they have brought on the flag-draped body bag. The message is complete.

VVAW's Veterans' Day ceremony in Madison draws in the participants; it allows them to reflect and contemplate the price we all pay as a society when words fail and guns must be taken up. The one common thread which binds all those men and women who have been touched by war is the desire for peace. We want people to think about the effects of war and the inspired to go out and work toward peace. It is very effective and very powerful.

Our ceremony went far beyond those in attendance at the Rotunda. This year, for the first time, our local listener-sponsored radio station, WORT, did a live broadcast from the Capitol, which went out to all of South Central Wisconsin, and directly to the local VA Hospital over the P.A. system. It was another VVAW first that was greatly appreciated along with the flowers from the ceremony which were distributed in the VA. "Thanks for thinking of us," said the brothers in the wards; "It's easy to forget that we're still here."

Sukie Wachtendonk
VVAW Madison