BonnerSprings.com

Veterans will be in the limelight this weekend as the Olsen-McGraw-Thompson-Goins Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6401 plays host to its annual “Salute to Veterans.”

The event will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at Lions Park, 300 W. Morse, with a welcoming and opening ceremony. This year’s event will focus on Vietnam War veterans and will include several displays and demonstrations about that era.

Ed Kennedy, with the G Company, 137th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry, will be running many of the presentations with the others in his historical re-enactment society.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “We do this to honor our veterans who have served in different wars.”

Kennedy, who taught history at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, will be sharing information he’s used in one of his classes specifically about the Vietnam War. He said he would have equipment, weapons, uniforms and other items that were used by soldiers during that war.

Also on display will be the members of the Military Vehicle Preservations Association of Kansas City with their armored cars and other military transports.

Kennedy said his goal with the presentations would be to dispel many of the myths about the military that have been generated over the years by the movie industry.

“I hope to clarify facts that have become unfortunately myths and rumors by people who don’t know anything about the military,” he said.

One local Vietnam Veteran who is looking forward to Saturday’s event is Jim Jenkins, Post 6401 adjutant. He said many Vietnam veterans didn’t receive a nice welcome home after the war like many soldiers did from other wars. He said he hoped this event would give some local veterans the support they missed out on years ago.

“It’s good for the community to participate,” he said. “It’s especially good for those who have served. It’s good therapy all the way around.”

Jenkins said he expected the event to bring back many memories, some good, some bad. He thinks about his time in Vietnam often but prefers to remember the camaraderie of the soldiers and the funny situations that took place between the “stressful and frightening” experience of war.

Jenkins recalled several stories about red ants that terrorized his camp. As part of an infantry battalion, Jenkins said was out in the “boondocks” most of the time where it rained a lot. He can remember soldiers taking breaks under a tree and then all of sudden he’d see the rifle go one way, the pack go the other and “the fastest strip tease he’s ever seen.”

“There were a lot of red ants,” he said. “And if they got on you, they’d bite right away.”

Stories like that he hopes to share with anyone who is interested at the event. He said he expects the day to be entertaining for all, whether to learn about the military or just to learn about history.

“It’s a good opportunity to learn about history and talk to someone who’s been there and done that,” he said.

The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with ceremonies at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Refreshments will be available on site as well.

For more information, call Bonner Springs Parks and Recreation at (913) 422-7010 or the Recreation Information Hotline at (816) 871-5047. For more information about Post 6401, visit the Web site vfw6401.org.

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