Veterans wanted for Bluffton Street Fair Parade

Ralph Garcia is looking for a few good men and women — not to serve their country. He’s looking for the ones who have already served.
Garcia is heading up an effort to get Vietnam-era veterans to join him in the opening night parade for the Bluffton Street Fair. There is an effort to get living veterans from all eras to be a part of the parade; however, as of now, Garcia has only one other individual to march with him.
The search for Vietnam veterans for the Street Fair is connected to the decade-by-decade theme of the fair’s opening night parade. Parade chairman Melanie Durr says that World War II veterans are needed for the 1940s and Korean War veterans are needed for the 1950s.
“We really need those veterans,” Durr said Tuesday.
Garcia’s focus is the Vietnam veterans, who will be included in the 1960s.
Vietnam-era veterans are defined as those who served between January of 1959 and May of 1975. Garcia wants anyone who served during that era to contact him to enlarge their ranks.
Whether their service was Stateside or in Vietnam (referred to as being “in country”), or anywhere else, does not matter. It’s the dates of service that matter.
“Any Vietnam-era veteran is eligible,” Garcia said. “Being an in-country veteran is not necessary.”
Garcia is the founder of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 698 in Bluffton. He says the membership of the local chapter is a little busy next Tuesday night, which means members can’t join the veterans’ group. Bob Frantz, for instance, is the Wells County sheriff; Jim Van Winkle is a member of County Council; Carl Perry is a member of the Bluffton Common Council.
“Many of our guys are already wrapped up in stuff,” Garcia said. “Right now, we have just me and another guy.”
Vietnam veterans came home to a country tired of the conflict, and as a group they were not honored for their service to the nation. This is another chance to rectify that oversight — if the veterans are there, Garcia said.
“This may be the first time they get some recognition for their Vietnam service,” he said. “I want to tell you — I’ve been a part of that, honored for my service, and it feels good.”
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To contact Ralph Garcia about being a part of the Vietnam-era veterans group in the Street Fair parade next Tuesday night, call 824-4026 and leave a message or send an e-mail to the Vietnam Veterans of America 698 to vva698@sbcglobal.net
Veterans of other conflicts should contact the American Legion at 824-3815.