Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans honored its Vietnam Veteran members Saturday, March 7, 2015 during its monthly meeting as part of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
On March 8, 1965, America's ground war in Vietnam began when 3,500 Marines were deployed with the American public's support. By Christmas, nearly 200,000 Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors were in the country. At war's end on April 30, 1975, nearly 3 million Americans had been on the ground, in the air and on rivers of Vietnam. More than 58,000 Americans lost their lives.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam Was, Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans honored Nine (9) Vietnam Veterans who are SG-VHV Members with Special SG-VHV Certificate of Appreciation Plaques thanking them for their service and their sacrifices.
The plaques were presented by Mr. Haywood and Elijah King, Jr. CSM(R), with Mr. King reading the Certificate.
The Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans Vietnam Veterans are James Bailey, Willie Browning, Kirk Bennett (not pictured), Henri Grenier, William Rush (Plaque accepted by his wife Mrs. Rush and SGVHV went to Rehab Center to personally present his plaque to him, Luis Rivera (not pictured), Gainswell White and Terry Spears (Plaque accepted by his daughter Marilyn Andrews). One recipient, Jimmy Hensley is in the Stoney Brook Living Center and the group plan to go over there and make his presentation.
“These soldiers didn’t come home to the welcome they deserved,” said Sheila Timmons SGVHV Member. “It was just the way things were — that was the era we were in. But we at Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans just want you to know that we appreciate you and everything you have done for our country and our way of life.”
Star Group president Jonathan Haywood, beaming as if he were a proud, first-time papa, stated
“Some of these men and women were drafted; others joined of their own accord to do what they considered was right,” Haywood said. “In either case, they served during a time when being a soldier was considered disgraceful by many in this nation, and it is way past time for us to honor their service and their sacrifices. “I consider them Heroes, and I am proud and honored to stand beside them.”
During the following weeks Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans journeyed around to visit their Vietnam Veteran members that were either in nursing homes or hospitals to present them with their plaques.
The first stop: 
Stoney Brook Senior Assisted Living Community. (See 2nd picture) Don Bailey, SGVHV Vietnam Veteran left, and John Robertson, Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans vice president, right, present a SGVHV Vietnam Veteran Certificate of Appreciation plaque to retired Army Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Henley during an ice cream social at Stoney Brook Senior Assisted Living Community in Copperas Cove on Friday. Henley is a member of the SGVHV organization. He found out after the presentation that he and Bailey both served in Vietnam from 1968-1969, although with different units.
Then the journey continued:
Jonathan Haywood, SGVHV President went to Round Rock to visit member William Rush in a Rehabilitation Center and presented him with his Vietnam Veteran Certificate of Appreciation plaque.
Jonathan Haywood, SGVHV President went to Round Rock to visit member William Rush in a Rehabilitation Center and presented him with his Vietnam Veteran Certificate of Appreciation plaque.
The final Stop was the Hospital where Mr Robertson presented Luis Rivera with his Vietnam Veteran Certificate of Appreciation plaque.
Mr Haywood stated that the Vietnam Veteran had been ignored for too long and he was going to make sure that every Star Group Veterans Helping Veterans member who was a Vietnam Veteran would be honored during this 50th Anniversary month.