Dear editor,

The best efforts at bringing about a welcome home for the veterans of the Vietnam War has once again fallen short of the mark. There seems no way of making a unified effort and following through to a meaningful display of support and gratitude. Every effort in the past has been thwarted by some obstacle and the latest is no exception.

The U. S. Senate did its job, but the U. S. House of Representatives did not. They took a week off and then lollygagged around until the date came and went without acting on the resolution placed before them on March 17.

This is the second consecutive year of the resolution.

At least our local newspaper, The Selma Times-Journal, did the right thing and proceeded with a column before and a profile of Vietnam veteran David MacKay on the day set aside by the Senate resolution for the event. The Vietnam veterans in our area can be proud of the support given them by our newspaper.

The only thing I would like to convey to the House members is, shame on you. The year 2012 is coming and will be here before you know it. If you can’t support veterans, we can’t support you.

My thanks on behalf of the Vietnam veterans to the staff and management of The Selma Times-Journal.

James G. Smith

Selma