COUNTY LIFE
Vietnam remembered – Local veterans reflect on wartime experiences
By DEBRA DUNLAP
April marked the 50th anniversary of the first American troopers arriving in the Vietnam War and the 40th since the last troops left the war-ravaged country.
Four Montague County Vietnam veterans got together recently to reflect on their wartime experiences and how their lives were forever changed.
The first American troops arrived in Vietnam in the spring of 1965 as a result of the escalation of the United States involvement in the extended conflict between North and South Vietnam.
The last American troops withdrew 10 long years later, after the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. During this conflict more than three million people, including 58,000 Americans, were killed.
In 1985, Richard Nixon was quoted as saying, “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.”
Even today, decades after the end of the Vietnam War, there are still as many opinions on America’s involvement as there were before the first soldiers’ feet hit the jungle soil.
April marked the 40th anniversary of the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam and the 50th year since the first troops arrived.
Looking back, the politics and opinions of the day are just not important. What matters are the lives lost or forever changed of the young Americans who obediently and bravely served in that war.
Read the full feature in your weekend News.
The 22nd annual July Jam returns on July 27 to the Bowie Community Center West Hall, 413 Pelham Street in Bowie.
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoying a chicken meal with delicious homemade jams because it wouldn’t be July Jam without it.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the Championship Fiddler Competition during Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival on Oct. 5.
This attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills on stage in the Bowie Fire Hall on Oct. 5.
Along with the live fiddling entertainment, come hungry and be ready to outbid your neighbors at the silent auction or just stop by for a great meal, fellowship and soak in the air conditioning.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
The Nocona City Council met this past week making plans for budget and tax rate hearings.
Councilors received a brief update on the 2024-25 budget preparations. City Secretary Revell Hardison said the final proposal is almost complete and they now await the arrival of the no-new revenue tax rate that will be reviewed by the council after it is calculated by the tax collector.
The proposal includes a tax rate increase of about 3% similar to last year and there will be a small increase in water and sewer rates, but Hardison said the final crunch on those will come after the tax rate projections arrive.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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