HARRISBURG, Pa. — Harold Redding may be done fighting on the battlefield, but his fight is far from over. “I knew when I started the research back in January that this is not going to happen overnight, I’m trying to attack it from various fronts,” said Redding, a Vietnam Veteran who lives in Spring Grove. The York County man is fighting for a national day of recognition specifically for Vietnam Veterans. For months he has been pushing lawmakers for March 29th to be designated as a National Vietnam Veterans Day of Recognition, the date when the last American troops left Vietnam back in 1973.
Redding recognized there is already a day for Veterans but said there are also other days for specific groups. "You have the Korean War Service day, you have Veterans Day, and this would really mean a Vietnam Veterans day forever," he said.
Redding joined the Army and deployed to Vietnam in 1966. "There was a period of time when I was there that I realized maybe I won't go home, and the fear was nobody would remember me," said Redding. That's why his goal is to make sure the more than 58,000 service members who lost their lives, and the Vietnam Veterans who came back without recognition are not forgotten. "They weren't received, the war was portrayed as being something that it was not, it was not a bad war. We went and we served because we were told to," said Redding, who approached State Representative Seth Grove (R-York County) for help.
Rep. Grove created a resolution on the state level to push congress, and said a state senator was creating a companion resolution to hopefully pass on to congress.
"World War II you had ticker tape parades and you were honored as heroes. The Korean War you were honored as heroes. Vietnam there was nothing," said Rep. Grove. For him, the cause is personal. His dad is also a Vietnam Veteran. "My dad was a Vietnam Veteran. He's never really opened up with his stories but I do know he was spit on after his second tour," he said fighting back tears. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like for my dad to be spit on and then come back to everyone else getting recognition. He doesn't fly an American flag anymore, so it really affected him, it really did. We owe them a debt of gratitude and the recognition they deserve," said Rep. Grove.
Redding knows it will take some time but doesn't plan to give up his fight. "Certainly having the commonwealth resolution will mean something," he said of Rep. Grove's support. "I can't say enough about him and his support of veterans."
