Introduction: "The last American soldier left Vietnam when Saigon fell on April 30, 1975. For the 2.4 million people who served in Vietnam, there was no official return. In June 2005, Branson, Missouri hosted “Operation Welcome Home” for Vietnam veterans. The parade and events were planned to provide the celebration and recognition they had not received more than 30 years earlier. (Vietnam: Homecoming) Veterans were able to see the Vietnam Travelers Memorial Wall and find the names of men they knew had died while serving. These veterans met men with whom they had previously served. Although this event was only a fraction of the welcome the soldiers truly deserved, many veterans greatly appreciated it. “Branson allowed me to close a book that remained open for 37 years.” (Crowe) For decades, Vietnam veterans were not appreciated for their service to the United States. This experience allowed them to begin to heal the wounds that have been open for decades from the horrible things they saw in combat and the lack of appreciation from the American people as a whole. The return of soldiers from Vietnam contrasted sharply with the return home. received by soldiers returning from service during World War II. This contrast is due to the lack of respect towards Vietnam era soldiers. American public opinion as a whole was not in favor of the war and the treatment of these soldiers reflected this. Regardless of the terribly traumatic experiences they endured in combat, Vietnam veterans faced discrimination because of their participation in an unpopular war. It was terribly unfair, and yet it happened. Imagine going to fight in an unknown country, thousands of kilometers from home. Facing the horrible b...... middle of paper ...... Live Again at Festival. " The State [Columbia] April 17, 2011: B1+.Print.Greene, Bob. Homecoming: When the Soldiers Returned From Vietnam Np: GP Putnam's Sons, 1989.Print.Lawrence, Mark Atwood. The Vietnam War: A Concise International History Np: Oxford University Press, nd Print.Maseng, Laif November 20, 2011. Lynn “Six wars. Six veterinarians. Six stories of courage." Parade November 6, 2011: 14+. Print.Struthers, James. "Great Depression." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Np, nd Web. November 30, 2011..Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. President Franklin D. Speech from Roosevelt to Congress National Archives and Records Administration Web..>.