When Dale Gajdosik (guy-doe-shick) learned in the spring of 2021 that the USA had a Vietnam War-era veterans national commemoration program, he said with an enthusiastic smile, “We can do this can’t we? I’d really like us to do this.”
Dale received immediate support for the program by the members of his American Legion post, Rio, Wisc., Post 208 in Columbia County. By November 2021, Dale made the first presentations to Rio-area Vietnam War-era veterans.
Dale says, “We don’t just want to have a huge group come in and we just hand them a pin; we want to make it personal and meaningful to the Vietnam veterans and their families!”
Dale has led more than 15 presentations mostly at the Rio Legion post building, and when weather has allowed at the beautiful veterans’ memorial on Lincoln Avenue in Rio, honoring a total of over 200 Vietnam War-era veterans and their families.
Dale, himself a U.S. Coast Guard veteran of the Vietnam era, leads a truly heartwarming and organized presentation, generally lasting about an hour.
The programs begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, a description of the program, and moves on to the actual presentations.
Dale invites spouses to come forward to join their veteran in the presentation. Dale likes to ask other members of the family and friends to stand during the presentation. The program ends with a musical selection, often a performance by Post 208’s commander, Terry Schraufnagel, of Lee Greenwood’s "God Bless the USA."
Dale has also made several presentations to surviving spouses of Vietnam-era veterans.
“It’s just a lot of smiles, and also some tears. You know, the honored Vietnam-era veterans are all so grateful to be recognized for what they did, some of them even wanted to come up and have their picture taken with me! All I did was help give them the recognition they so deeply deserve.”
Dale also expresses gratitude for the support by the national program staff in Washington, who provide the presentation materials, and for the support by his fellow members of Post 208 and members of the Post 208 Auxiliary. He says, “I just couldn’t do it without the other members of the post, who order materials for me, help with the program and refer veterans to me for recognition. It’s great to be a part of such a great post!”
Events planned include a presentation program at the Pardeeville, Wisc., Car Show in September. Knowing Dale, it will be a meaningful and warmly received event.