THE VIETNAM WAR

Today is NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL DAY. The Vietnam War emerged from the First Indochinese War. The French had enough after many years of war and pulled their forces out of Vietnam in 1954, the year I was born. The U.S. became the principal financial, strategic and military leader of South Vietnam at that time. The U.S. involvement lasted until 1975. It is no exaggeration to say the Vietnam War impacted my formation as a man, my family, my friends, and their families, my generation, and the soul of our nation for two decades. Our nation has fought many wars before Vietnam and since. There will likely be new wars in the future. That is why days of remembrance like this are so important. The lessons of years past prepare us for today and tomorrow. LORD, thank you for those who have sacrificed so much for this nation. May this generation and future generations never forget the debt we owe.