I  remember the summer of 1976.

I was serving as editor of the Cottonwood County Citizen, a large county seat weekly at Windom, MN.

I wrote a weekly column but this particiular week, went to the publisher and asked for space to do an editorial - about Vietnam, where the war was but a year over, a local district court judge - and the hundreds (or thousands) of US conscripts to the Vietnam war who never got on the plane. They opted for a quick trip across the north border to Canada.

I had just returned from “the Nam” five years prior - the memories and feelings towards our federal government remained raw.

Judge Mann gave me a new insite to “raw.” In a local court case, he chastised a returned man from Canada in a tirade from his bench.

I was torn on that one. I had made the trip across the ocean; why hadn’t this young man, nor the legions of others who opted not to serve?

Was their way of protesting the Vietnam War a legitimate reason in leaving our country for Canada?

Our country’s leaders weren’t right in starting that war or maintaining it for 10,000 days. They lied to us and led us into death battles. More than the 59,000 reported killed were killed - and as many more killed themselves when they returned to our country. 

Vietnam vets were left at the end of the proverbial dock. Those contracting cancer due to the foliage retardant were left to fight the government to help save their lives. It took years for the Veterans Wall to be built. The country’s backs were turned on us - and we had to fight ourselves through the consequences.

It was lonely.

If there was a time for Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, that was it.

My editorial that week was entitled, “Judge Mann, You’re Wrong.”

I took up the cause of those who left our country. And I took up their cause to return to our country - without penalty.

I argued those who left the USA because of philosophical or religious differences with the State Department should be welcomed back.

And I argued those of coward’s nature should be allowed to return as well. Perhaps sometime in their futures they would grow the resolve to serve their community.

Left out of this discussion have been the true heroes for America - our veterans, who accepted the call to duty. They may not have liked the establishment nor those calling the war, but they have loved the flag and honor it to this day.

Bless our veterans. You are our heroes - and the reasons we have all the good things in our lives.