The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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October 29, 2009

Vietnam vets raise trip funds

By Jackie Ayres

A local group of Vietnam veterans are selling $5 chances to win a brand new Polaris 500 all-terrain vehicle and trailer.

All proceeds from the drawing will fund a three-day trip for the group to visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. in April.

“It’s a therapeutic trip,” said Vietnam Air Force veteran Gary Peters.

The veterans say the trip will provide an opportunity to get closure on the war, as many still suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.

“History will tell you, when we came back from Vietnam, they had extra guards all through the San Francisco airport,” Peters said.

“They would spit on us. Everyone in this country was dead set against the Vietnam war,” Peters added.

Many of the soldiers in this group — Vietnam Veteran’s group No. 20— still have a hard time processing the war they fought more than 30 years ago.

“It’s going to help bring some closure to some unresolved issues. It’s usually really, really successful,” said Melody Baringer, team leader at the Beckley Veterans Center.

Baringer says it takes a lot of courage to visit the memorial.

“It’s a real difficult thing. These guys are really courageous in making the trip itself.”

Many of the vets say they would never go to the memorial without a comrade.

“I just didn’t think I could handle it. I have friends on that wall ... friends in the Army, guys I went to high school with,” Peters said.

“As a solider, you look death in the eye. It’s pretty tough.”

Any money leftover from the drawing will benefit veterans staying at the VA hospital during the holidays.

Tickets for the drawing can be purchased at Beckley Kmart today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The drawing for the ATV will take place Nov. 6.

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