ST. CLAIRSVILLE — It was a time of brotherhood and remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price when area veterans gathered at the Belmont County Courthouse on Wednesday for a Vietnam Veterans Day service.

Bob Farmer, past commander of St. Clairsville American Legion post 159, led the opening prayer and St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman welcomed the veterans and read a proclamation in honor of the day.

“We’re in esteemed company,” Thalman said. “You who served. You who came home to very little recognition.”

She recalled hearing word of the war while growing up.

“It was on our minds all the time. We had kids who had older brothers who went and some who didn’t return. It was a war that for the first time was brought into our living rooms every night,” she said. “You answered the call of your country, and had you been called upon to make that supreme sacrifice, you would have done it.”

Legion Adjutant Rick Johnson recited the poem “Son of America” by Heloise B. Riddell and introduced the guest speaker, Joe Peters, Post 77 commander of the Neffs American Legion.

Peters spoke about the earliest days and the closing days of the war, saying it was March 8, 1965, when the first U.S. combat troops landed in Vietnam. The last combat troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973, and 550 prisoners of war were released.

“Being a Vietnam veteran, we all remember our first day in Vietnam, and we remember our last day in Vietnam. Our first day in Vietnam, I think we all had culture shock. You get off that plane, the heat, the smell, everything was different from what we was accustomed to,” he said.

“I think our last day in Vietnam was a bittersweet day. We were happy we were leaving, but you were sad because you were leaving some buddies behind that you were probably never going to see again. I think that every Vietnam veteran has those thoughts.”

Peters recounted his departure from Asia and arrival at Pasadena, California.

“We got off the plane, there was nobody there. There was no banners, there was no flags, there was just us,” he said. “Guys were hugging one another, guys were kissing the ground. It was a happy moment.”

He recalled the difficulties of readjusting to civilian life.

“You got home, you took off your uniform. Now you’re supposed to go on with your life as normal. Well, we all know that’s not the way it worked. A lot of Vietnam veterans had nobody to talk to,” he said. “If you didn’t have another Vietnam veteran to talk to, you just shut up I guess.”

Peters spoke about changes in more recent years, saying people now often approach veterans with a Vietnam hat and thank them for their service.

“That’s a good feeling. That’s a feeling you don’t get every day and we didn’t get earlier when we came home,” he said.

He closed by speaking of the importance of remembering the more than 58,000 who died in the war and honoring the veterans who served in the war and in support of the troops in action.

He said more than 350,000 were wounded, and more veterans are lost daily, many from the side effects of Agent Orange.

“I’d like to know how come we won every major battle in Vietnam and they say we lose a war. I think that’s left to the politicians,” he said.

He added that of the 58,267 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, 39,996 were 22 years old or younger; 8,283 were 19 years old; 33,103 were 18 years old; 12 were just 17 years old; and five were only 16 years old.

“There are three sets of fathers and sons on that wall. Thirty-one sets of parents lost both of their sons,” he said.

He added that 997 were killed on their first day in action, and 1,446 were killed on their last day. There are also eight women’s names on the wall. Of the 244 recipients of the Medal of Honor, 153 of them are on the wall.

“I think that kind of puts things in perspective,” he said. “My fellow veterans served with honor and distinction. May you always hold your head up high for a job well done.”

Gary Clark of Glencoe served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I think this is great. I think we should have had this years and years ago. I’m here because of all the buddies I lost,” he said.

Kurt Turner, who served in the U.S. Navy hospital corps, thanked the event organizers.

“It’s one of the few things put on that really recognize the Vietnam veterans,” he said. “Those of us here today are not the heroes. The heroes didn’t come back.”

Vic Sheldon Jr. of St. Clairsville, who served in the U.S. Air Force, recalled arriving in Vietnam on Feb. 28, 1968, during the Tet offensive coordinated attacks by North Vietnam.

“Everybody was scared. They didn’t know what the heck was going on. Different environments,” he said. “Later that night, we had an attack through the fences. … A bunch of people died. … You didn’t know who was your enemy and who wasn’t your enemy. I flew C-123s and sprayed Agent Orange every day twice a day, so it was an experience. I don’t want it to happen again, but I would never have been the same if I hadn’t done my military service.”

The St. Clairsville High School Marching Band provided music.

Meanwhile, all veterans are invited to a free pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. April 15 at the St. Clairsville American Legion, 100 Legion Road.