LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — The 61st Greenlawn Cemetery Memorial Day tribute was held at Walters Funeral Home in Lafayette. Attendees were captivated by the message from Terry Fitzgerald, a Vietnam Veteran of the United States Army.

Keynote speaker Fitzgerald recalls when he was just 23-years-old in Vietnam. He says there were younger soldiers.

“Most of them were 18 and 19-years-old. They did not know they could be killed. They had no idea about their mortality, and we lost a lot of them,” Fitzgerald said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re for the war or against the war. You are out there with your buddies, and you want to make sure they make it.”

Fitzgerald wants everyone to realize veterans are struggling and suffering and need support.

“A place where someone will listen to them and help them. Guys, PTSD is a real deal,” Fitzgerald noted.

Eugene Walters of Walters Funeral Home is a Vietnam veteran. Walter’s many decorations include three purple hearts, the silver star and the bronze star medals.

“There were situations that I will never forget. But again, I have to say there were wonderful situations. I can remember swimming in the Gulf of Tonkin with the guys. You know, I remember good times. You blackout perhaps a lot of the bad,” Walters added.

The distinguished veteran of the year is Theresa Latiolais Guidry. Guidry was a nurse. She entered the U.S. Navy, which eventually guided her to serve during the Korean War.

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