The Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] Post #4793 in Waynesburg hosted an event to remember those that fought and died in the Vietnam War. The event, which was held Wednesday, March 29, has been held for the past five years.

The event was originally started by Barack Obama during his presidency due to March 29, 1973 being known as “Vietnam Veterans Day,” the last time troops were sent to Vietnam.

According to Rick Black, the senior vice commander of Post #4793, there were veterans who tried to speak about the war during the event.

“We give the Vietnam War vets a chance to say whatever they want to say…then we encourage those who are not veterans to come honor Vietnam veterans,” said Black.

A meal was provided to those in attendance as music bounced through the dining hall during the event. Post #4793 adopted the idea to celebrate Vietnam Veterans Day to honor those from Greene County who lost their lives in the war.

A veteran of the Navy himself, Black said he can tell during these events that it’s difficult for the men and women who severed in the war to talk about it, especially when surrounded by a room full of other veterans.

“It means a whole lot, especially for those who were on the ground,” said Black. “A lot of them have a problem with it now—it’s something they don’t like to talk about.”

Black said that during events like these, sometimes those who fought in the particular war who get too overwhelmed to even speak.

“We had a couple guys last year that got up there and started to talk about it and they just couldn’t do it,” said Black. “Everybody is different.”

This event for Vietnam Veterans isn’t the only thing Post #4793 has been up to. For the past several months, Black has been able to reserve a traveling Vietnam War memorial to remember the lives lost.

“You would be lucky to have one of these walls every ten or twelve years,” said Black.

The wall Black has provisioned is a three-fifths replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.

It will coincidentally be coming to Waynesburg at a time when many former community members and veterans will be returning to the area.

“That particular weekend is Homecoming weekend for [Waynesburg University],” said Black, “See, the thing is, there is a lot of alumni relatives and everything that will be coming to the game that were in Vietnam or had relatives in Vietnam.”

According to Black, the wall was in Washington County about ten years ago, but it has never made the trip to Greene County.

The memorial will be in Greene County from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2. Black said it was not an easy or short process to find a time to get the wall.

“It takes three, four, five or six months,” said Black. “You have to get after them. It’s tough to get on it, and it’s costly.”

Because of the cost, Black also said their VFW post is open to any monetary donations. To make a donation, contact Post #4793 at 724-627-3720.