Mission Monday

Albuquerque Chapter

The Albuquerque Chapter attended the Vietnam Veterans Commemoration at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Park in Albuquerque NM. During the ceremony Welcome Home pins were passed out to all the Vietnam Veterans who had never received the pin.  When the Master of Ceremonies announced it was time for the official pinning, I looked around and noticed a man sitting behind me looking blankly at the pin in his hand. ​

I maneuvered through the chairs and asked him if I could put the pin on his shirt. He looked a little
confused, like he didn’t realize what was happening. I told him it was my honor to place the pin on his shirt and welcome him home. At that point I saw a little glimmer of pride in his eyes. After the ceremony everyone walked across the roadway where lunch was being served. As I walked up to the end of the line, I
noticed an emblem on the jacket of a man waiting in line. It was of the 173 rd Airborne Brigade. The same
brigade my son Devin had been with when he parachuted into Iraq on March 20, 2003. Of course, I wanted
to speak with this man because of my interest in his patch. I touched the man on the arm to get his
attention. When he turned around, I realized it was the same Veteran I had pinned just minutes before. A
chill went up my spine and goosebumps developed on the back of my neck. God put this veteran in my
path that day. We visited for quite some time, and I learned so much more about the history of the “Sky
Soldiers”.
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Who would have thought I would receive a blessing by going to a Vietnam Ceremony?

Karen Alexander
American Gold Star Mother – Albuquerque Chapter

Joann Zembeic, Becky Christmas, Pat Merville, Karen Alexander, Shirley Tetreault, and Joyce Paulsen