Becoming a Bravey

Honoring Vietnam Veterans: A Parade of Remembrance and Unity

Our city council organized a “Welcome Home” parade for the 50 th anniversary of the end to the

Vietnam War. When I first saw the promotion for it, I hoped enough people would show up to

support and be thankful for our forgotten and often mistreated veterans.

I considered how I was coming into the world in 1964, while these men and women were going

off to a foreign land to “show up for democracy and stand up to Communism.” I heard the awful

way these heroes were treated upon coming home after experiencing the atrocities of war, I

didn’t want them to feel that again. Therefore, I wanted to support them and hoped everyone else

would do the same to honor those who showed up bravely for the good of all mankind.

Then, I forgot about the parade as my focus turned to another event on the same day, the women-

sponsored “Hands Off” rally: the movement to stand up to the idiocy of our government leaders.

It was a national event happening in DC and in cities coast to coast. I wanted to participate and

entertained the thought of driving to DC. But when I reached out to several friends, they all had

other commitments. If I went, it would be alone, probably not the safest thing to do. To clarify, I

am not a protester, as of yet, I have strong opinions, voiced within the confines of my home.

A local “Hands Off” event was happening in downtown Cincinnati. Not totally a safe place,

especially for a woman protesting solo. I was hesitant and slightly fearful as I let my imagination

spin out of control and pictured being tear-gassed or a physical altercation or getting arrested. All

scenes from my recent movie obsession, A Complete Unknown. My son even warned me, and

said I can do other things as effectively and not put myself in harm’s way.

I considered other ways to support the cause, send money, or join an organization. But while on a

walk the morning of the rally, I remembered the parade. It was scheduled for 10:00am, and the

rally at 11:00am. I thought I could attend both, maybe. After more walking and praying, I knew I

had to at least attend the parade.

I did, and it was emotional, powerful, and a bigger crowd than I thought, which was good. The

fire department ladder trucks formed an arch over the caravan of jeeps, each with a Vietnam

veteran or two inside. One veteran wiped away tears as we waved, clapped, and said “thank

you.” Some healing, perhaps.

I was inspired to go to the rally, albeit with hesitation. I planned to drive near the area and get a

feel for the crowd and my safety. All the while, I questioned if this was a smart decision. But

then I remembered another scene from A Complete Unknown when Suze takes Bob to a civil

rights rally. In real life, she was the one who influenced him to be politically and socially active.

Go Suze! Dylan attended the March on Washington to stand up for civil rights in 1963. I asked

myself, what would Dylan and Suze do? Go!

Once I was near the area, I saw the crowd of all ages, ethnicities, genders, and all carrying signs

that matched my sentiments, I knew I was safe to participate. I followed the traffic into the

parking garage, and once out of my car, followed women, some older than me, and some much

younger than me, alone and carrying signs. Signs made from anything they had, pizza boxes,

oversize envelopes, brown paper bags, cardboard, whatever would show their support for the

“Hands-Off” movement.

It was a positive, historic, and political movement to stand up for human rights, dignity, the

constitution, common sense, and against tyranny, abuse of power, ignorance, etc. And as one sign

said, “Too many issues, not enough posterboard.”

My inner hippie and confidence ballooned when they sang a Woody Guthrie song about fascism.

Woody Guthrie was one of Bob Dylan’s heroes. Then my inner bravey busted forth, when the

crowd broke into “This Land is your land, this land is my land….” Another scene from the

movie when Pete Seeger sings on the steps of city hall after going to court for being unpatriotic.

The timing of the veterans’ parade and the rally and the inspiration of Suze Rotolo are not lost on

me. If I had not remembered about the parade, and showed up for the veterans, I know I would

not have gone to the rally. But I was so moved by the American pride, humankind, and I was

already in my car driving, so why not drive downtown and put myself out there to support all

human rights. Stand up, show up, be brave!



I grew that day when I faced my fears, and I am grateful for the odd way the movie, and Suze

and Dylan continue to inspire and impact my life.