The
Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) and Remember My Service (RMS) are
out to tell the story of Alabama’s Vietnam veterans.
“The best way to honor Vietnam
veterans is to remember and share their stories of service, duty, and
sacrifice,” explains Sharlene Hawkes, president
of RMS Productions. “The hardbound book and online ebook, A Time to Honor:
Stories of Service, Duty, and Sacrifice, ensures that the veterans of a
controversial and painful war are appropriately honored.” The ebook will be
given free of charge to Vietnam veterans and their families in every state, and
the 175-page hardbound book with feature documentary The Journey Home will also be given as private sponsors become
available.
“We want to reinforce that over nine million served the
call of their country without any desire to follow any particular policy,” she
said. “The book is a way to show the breadth and depth of the Vietnam War—it is
the collective story told through individual experiences.” Stories in the book represent
all states and services, and are not only from combat veterans, but also mail
clerks, nurses, prisoners of war and truck drivers.
Alabama
Vietnam veterans can contribute their stories and photographs to a digital
history of the war by logging onto http://www.vietnam50gift.com/Submit-Story.
The stories will be included in an interactive state-specific eBook which will
accompany the hardbound book.
"This book describes the arduous service and tremendous
sacrifice of these men and women and is the next logical step in showing the
proper measure of gratitude, respect and compassion for all these Alabamians
have done," W. Clyde Marsh, ADVA commissioner, said. “The
special book is meant to be a welcome home from every Vietnam Veteran of each
state in the nation.”