City of Lincoln recognizes Vietnam Veterans

 

[April 04, 2023] 

On Friday afternoon, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch, City Clerk Peggy Bateman, City Treasurer Chuck Conzo and Ward Three Alderwoman Wanda Lee Rohlfs hosted a group of Vietnam Veterans in the council chambers of City Hall.

The event was the official reading and presentation of a proclamation declaring Wednesday, March 29th and Vietnam Veteran Day in Lincoln. The proclamation was passed by unanimous vote at the Monday, March 27th meeting of the full council.

During the afternoon event, guests were seated in the chamber with the four representatives of the city taking their usual seats in the front of the room.

Mayor Welch opened the day welcoming the guests to the chamber and saying that before he read the proclamation, he would invite the three city officials to his left the opportunity to say a few words if they so choose, after he said a few words.

"When the Daughters of the American Revolution approached me with this request, I was honored to be asked," Welch said.  "I am a veteran myself as most of you know. To stand in the same presence with those of you who have fought in other battles and veterans as well is an honor. Mr. Schaler, I work with him a lot through other things I’m glad to represent a community that takes care of its veterans, and thinks of them highly.”

City Clerk Bateman was the first to speak, expressing appreciation to the veterans and telling them that it is not said often enough, but the city of Lincoln appreciates them and is always going to be available to them. She emphasized, “We love you and you mean a lot to us. Anytime you need anything, we are here. And pass that on to others.”

Treasurer Conzo said that he felt Bateman had made a very good statement and there wasn’t a whole lot he could add to it. He said indeed our local veterans are important to the community and to the city and again, if there was every anything the city can do to please let them know and also to pass it on to all the other veterans they know.

Alderwoman Rohlfs shared the same sentiment, and shared her familial connection to military service, saying her father was a serviceman and was in World War II when she was an infant. She recalled not knowing her dad until she was a few years old because he had been away at war. She said that there were nine members of her dad’s close family including four brothers who served in World War II. She concluded by thanking the veteran in the room for their service.

Welch then read the proclamation aloud to the group.

Marge Aper with the Abraham Lincoln Daughters of the American Revolution was the one who had approached Welch to do the proclamation. She was in the room to witness the event.

When the proclamation was read, after a round of applause everyone in the room including Aper, the city officials and the veterans in the room gathered at the front of the room for a group photo to commemorate the day.

Those included in the photo are in the front row from far let to far right, Alderman Ward Three Wanda Lee Rohlfs, DAR representative Marge Aper, US Navy Veteran Vince Long, Army Veteran Stu Churchill, Army Veteran Jerry McAfee, Mayor Tracy Welch, Treasurer Chuck Conzo, and City Clerk Peggy Bateman.

In the back row U.S. Marine Veteran Joe Schaler, U.S. Navy Veteran Gary Leesman, U.S. Marine Veteran Bill Melton, U.S. Marine Veteran Gene Hickey, U.S. Marine Veteran Bill Dennis, and Army Veteran Ray Skelton.

[Nila Smith]