9-10-2024 1:24pm

Heroes Welcome September 21st, 2024 Celebrates 3 Local Veterans

Chris Edwards Editor

Times are tough and much division within the political landscape but one thing, today unlike the past, that unites us, is recognition of our veterans. On September 21st we honor 3 Vietnam War era veterans.

American soldiers returning home from Vietnam often faced scorn as the war they had fought in became increasingly unpopular, and yet, a majority of those who participated, were drafted and had no choice. They deserved, a welcome home and we have another Heros Welcome coming up in Alamogordo.

Save the date of September 21st, 2024 at 7:30 pm for a very special hero's welcome home. This Welcome Home to Heros event is hosted by the Patriot Guard Riders and the US Veterans Motorcycle Club, Trinity Chapter and Honor Flight

The public is invited and encouraged to join AlamogordoTownNews.com and KRAZY KALHRadio.org, as we join the community at the Fairgrounds September 21st 2024 at 7:30 pm.

Let's ensure we have a crowd of people waving flags and carrying signs welcoming home three local Vietnam Veterans from their Honor Flight.

The Honor Flight Van will be escorted by police, and the Patriot Guard Riders and the US Veterans Motorcycle Club, Trinity Chapter will come up White Sands Boulevard and to the fairgrounds for a hero's welcome and a meet and greet.

The travel plans for Honor Flight include the veterans departing from Las Cruces they fly out of El Paso to Washington DC. They will go to many sites in the DC area including Arlington and the War memorials. They will return to a “heroes welcome” at El Paso airport with their flight. They will then be escorted via the Texas State Police with assistance from the El Paso Police Department, the New Mexico State Police, the Patriot Guard Riders and the US Veterans Motorcycle Club along with the Alamogordo Police Department to bring them back to Alamogordo and be welcomed back to the fairgrounds. The Alamogordo Police Department will meet them at the city limits and will provide a police escort down White Sands Blvd to the fairgrounds for the reception.

Honor Flight of Southern New Mexico and El Paso transports America's World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans to Washington DC to visit the memorials built to honor and remember those who served. This trip of a lifetime provides closure, healing and the welcome home these heroes deserve. Every Veteran is taken on the flight at no cost to themselves. To learn more visit https://www.honorflightnm.org/.

The honorees for this event include:

Joseph Green served in multiple branches US Marine Corp, US Navy Reserve and US Air Force Reserve and is a Vietnam War Era veteran.

Joseph Green served in the Marine Corp as an aviation Technitian and did some time as an MP during his career. He then transferred to the Navy Reserve where he was a photos mate, taking official photo's, documenting crashes, and got to take a few photos of movie stars as well. From there he went to the Air Force Reserve's, there he became a Civil Engineer, specifically an electrician, later they transfered him to Power Production, a generator maintainer. There he went all over the US and assisted with large scale projects that were upgrading the power grid on bases/in pecific facilities. He served 3 Years in the Marines, 12 in the Navy Reserves and 16 in the Air Force Reserves before he decided to retire on 1 Feb, 1995.

Floyd Stringer a US Army Vietnam War Era veteran. Floyed is an Alamagordo native who served in the US Army as a Helocoptor Crew Chief and Gunner for the UH-1's. He was sot down twice in 5 days. The first time he walked away without a scratch, the second time he was not so lucky and spent 23 months in the Hospital recovering at the Old Army Hospital, William Bowmont, here at Fort Bliss. He has 2 sons, 5 grandsons and 2 grand daughters. He and his wife spend their retirment drag rasing, and it has become a family thing, as well.

Susan Stringer is a US Army Vietnam War Era veteran Army medical Nurse . Susan joined the army as well and became a nurse. After her training in Alabama and Sam Houston, she was assigned to Fort Bloss, where she administered shots to new troops. From there she was transfered to the Army Hospital William Bowmont and worked on the Officers Ward. She met her Husband Floyd, through a mutual friend. But her and Floyd love to tell people that they met at the hospital as a little joke. After the Army she then began working on Holloman AFB as a Family Support center, assisting Airman and their families with Air Force Aid and Emergency aid services.

Let's bring out a huge crowd to the Fairgrounds September 21st 2024 at 7:30 pm to welcome back home these honored veterans.