SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. — This weekend is the 52nd anniversary of the last American combat troops being withdrawn from Vietnam.
To honor those who served during this time, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., recognized Saturday March 29, 2025, as "Vietnam Veterans Day" in the commonwealth.
“I want to thank our Vietnam veterans for their service," Beshear said. "It is our duty to honor them, and it's my honor to deliver this message on behalf of the people of Kentucky. You are the best of us, and we appreciate you."
Some of those veterans were honored with a parade in Shepherdsville Saturday afternoon. It was the first of its kind.
“Tickles me to death," said John Harrison, a Vietnam veteran. "I'm just really glad to be a part of it."
Harrison enlisted in the military when he was 18. He served in the army from 1968 to 1971, including a year in Vietnam.
“They teach you about different maneuvers and what you need to do and what to look for, and that they don't they never could teach you about the fear,” he said.
Harrison said he avoided wearing his army hat for 40 years because of the stigma.
“In California, when I get off the airplane, we got spit out, called names, they (threw) stuff at us," Harrison said. "They told us before we got off the plane not to make eye contact with anybody."
He joined more than 70 veterans in the Vietnam Veterans Day Parade.
“The past few years, we as veterans are being thanked for our service," Harrison said. "Where before, we couldn’t even say we'd been in the service and now to have a parade to welcome us home, something we never got. I think it's a great thing."“The past few years, we as veterans are being thanked for our service," Harrison said. "Where before, we couldn’t even say we'd been in the service and now to have a parade to welcome us home, something we never got. I think it's a great thing."
The idea for a Vietnam Veterans Parade was born when a traveling replica of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall came to the city last summer, drawing veterans from all over the region.
“When they came, we always try to introduce, say 'Thank you for coming,'" said Shepherdsville Mayor Jose Cubero.
"I met one gentleman, a marine out of Louisville. I went to shake his hand and I said, my name is Jose Cubero, mayor of Shepherdsville. So he said, ‘My name is Richard. When are we going to get a parade?’ I said, 'Sir, you're getting a parade.'"
It was the city's inaugural parade. One organizer said the support has been overwhelming.
“I’ve been able to speak and meet so many veterans from our community … and to get to meet them in person, as a veteran myself, who had a very wonderful career in the military, it is maybe the most special feeling I’ve had,” said organizer Cortney Burden.
The turnout that was also noticeable by the veterans.
“It’s a great turnout," Harrison said. "It's better than I expected, really."
The mayor said the parade will return next year on National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
The U.S. Army estimates there are about 5.4 million Vietnam veterans alive today and more than 500 Vietnam veterans die every day.
