National Military
History Center
Senator Lugar encourages veterans to attend Indiana Operation Welcome Home!
Asks all veterans to be on hand "to receive our nation's gratitude."
Senator Bayh expresses support for
Operation Welcome Home.
"A chance to say thank you, rewrite history, and embrace all those who serve."
The Midwest Operation Welcome Home will take place July 2-6, 2008 in Northern Indiana. The communities of Auburn and Fort Wayne, and the entire region, will be opening their arms to the men and women who served America during difficult times — and never knew the joy of a triumphant homecoming!
The Kruse Foundation, which operates the World War II Victory Museum and is developing the National Military History Center, is working in concert with the American Veterans Institute, which founded the Operation Welcome Home celebrations, to create an unforgettable event that will unfold along the I-69 corridor throughout the holiday weekend.
Previous national celebrations took place in Las Vegas (in 2005) and in California (in 2006). The founders, who hail from Ohio, are thrilled with Indiana's participation and are hoping to build a celebration that involves surrounding states and populations.
"We invite and encourage participation from anyone who loves our veterans and wants to show their gratitude," said Operation Welcome Home chairman Mike Jackson.
Make plans to attend a truly red, white and blue celebration
of our men and women in uniform — July 2-6, 2008.
How Do I Make Reservations?
Operation Welcome Home is deeply grateful to the northern Indiana hospitality community. Many fine facilities are opening their doors and their hearts to our veterans, their families, and those who wish to honor them. Very appealing rates are being offered for the event. To find out more about participating hotels and motels, please click the button below:
What will be happening?
Many Items are tentative and many more will be added!
A Welcome Home parade, a USO Show, The Traveling Wall, Memorial Services, Reunions, Displays and Activities, Merchandise, Re-enactors...and the warmth and good wishes of a region, a state, and a nation.
Check this site regularly for special surprises on activities
and honored guests!
What else is there to do?
Auburn and Fort Wayne are home to wonderful museums, exciting dining establishments, and a wealth of transportation history, including -- but not limited to -- planes, trains and automobiles!
Connect to Other Veterans
VETERANS! -- If you plan to attend Operation Welcome Home or you want to track down others who are attending, go to www.gizone.net and post your information on the GIzone Operation Welcome Home bulletin board.
CIVILIANS! -- If you want to say thank you to a special veteran (Vietnam era or others), you should also go to www.GIzone.net and let your voice of gratitude be heard!
Who does the Celebration Honor?
Originally, Operation Welcome Home was a tribute to our Vietnam Veterans who were denied their parade by the politics and rancor of the 1960s and 70s. The celebration still emphasizes thanking and honoring these brave men and women -- but it also pays tribute to ALL who serve, especially those who did not get a proper welcome home.
Part of the mission of Operation Welcome Home is to dispel the long-standing "myth of the Vietnam Veteran." Perpetuated by movies, TV shows and media myths, the Vietnam Veteran has long been portrayed as dysfunctional, haunted, anti-social and a host of other unappealing qualities. Nothing could be further from the truth. Vietnam Veterans are our teachers, doctors, lawyers, bankers, elected officials, filmmakers, entertainers, artists and more. They are the backbone of our society and it is way past time that we recognized them as such and honored them for their contributions. THAT is part of the mission of Operation Welcome Home. Vietnam Veterans are one of the most powerful demographic groups in America. You think you know who they are? Read on ...
91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served.
ONLY 25% of Vietnam Veterans were drafted. (In WWII, 67% were draftees; 33% were volunteers).
There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-veterans of the same age group.
Vietnam Veteran's personal income exceeds that of the same
non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent.
97% were discharged under honorable conditions; the same percentage of honorable discharges as ten years prior to Vietnam.
Vietnam Veterans were the best educated forces our nation had ever sent into combat. 79% had a high school education or better.
A Vietnam Veteran is more likely to have gone to college than a man of his age who did not serve.
Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison - only 1/2 of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
87% of the American people hold Vietnam Vets in high esteem.
Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers.
Statistics courtesy of the Veterans Administration, Census Bureau, Gen. Barry McCafferty, Gen. William Westmoreland, National Archives, Labor Department, National Personnel Records.