Army veteran Lambert Rosenbaum, of Renfrew, shakes hands Thursday with National Guard Col. Bob DeSousa, who serves as Sen. Pat Toomey's state director, before receiving a commemorative pin during an event honoring local Vietnam War veterans at the Lyndora American Legion Post 778 in Butler Township. "I love that great change," said Rosenbaum of the general perception of Vietnam veterans. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

Joseph Ressler

The sea of graying heads at the Lyndora American Legion Post 778 on Thursday morning belied the courage and selflessness demonstrated 50 years ago, when thousands of young men from Butler County answered their county’s call.

Those men, some fighting tears or assisted by cane, were honored for their military service by federal, state and local officials during a ceremony at the post organized by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th.

The event came just a few days after national Vietnam War Veterans Day on Tuesday, which signifies the date in 1973 when the last acknowledged combat troops departed Vietnam and Hanoi released its final acknowledged prisoners of war.

One by one, more than 180 veterans at the event received and returned a heartfelt salute from Pennsylvania National Guard Col. Bob DeSousa and a lapel pin from Mustello commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Each veteran then shook hands with state Sen. Scott Hutchison, R-21st, and county Commissioners Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel, all of whom heartily thanked the veterans for their service.

All veterans who served between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, were invited to sign up for the event.

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