Twenty-two Vietnam veterans received their Vietnam Era Veterans Medallion and certificate from the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs during a special ceremony held on April 2, 2019. The program and recognition ceremony was a special coordinated by the Kansas City Kansas Branch NAACP Veterans Committee.
In 2009, the Kansas Legislature approved the Vietnam Era Veterans Medallion Program as a way to thank the men and women who served during that era, but knowledge of the program had been slow to reach those vets. So, the KCK-NAACP under took an effort to make sure veterans of color received this special thanks for their service.
Members of the NAACP’s Veterans Committee manned booths at special events, used community connections, reached out to community organizations and churches and even solicited the support of The Community Voice in an effort spread the word about the program. Committee members also helped the vets complete the forms necessary to receive their medal, made sure they had valid and acceptable proof of service, then collected the applications and mailed them as a group to the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs.
Impressed by their efforts, Eric Rohleder, interim deputy director of the Kansas Veterans Service, attended the ceremony to personally present the vets their medallions and certificates.
The ceremony was followed by a lite meal and shared military stories.
VETERANS RECEIVING MEDALLIONS
Jerry J. Avery, Jr. Navy
Robert W. Banks, Navy
Thomas B. Brown Army
Kenneth W. Cage Air Force
Connie L. Carr Marine Corps
John H. Daniels Army
Johnnie L. Foster Army
Ernest B. Galbearth Air Force
Herman W. Hercey Army
Vernie C. Hughes Navy
Arthur L. Jackson Army
Carl R. Jackson Army
Renwick L. Jones Army
Aaron L. Mabon Army
Michael A. McCallop Navy
Gerald A. McIntosh Army
Tyrone S. Montague Army
Dwayne J. Perkins Army
Fredrick D. Reid Army
Clarence I Robinson Army
Daniel E. Ward Marine Corps
Quinton L. Zenon Navy