‘Booed ... and spit on’: Tyler veteran recalls Vietnam-era homecoming, now receives recognition

Veterans at The Hamptons of Tyler Senior Living in southeast Tyler received a pin and a certificate from Heart to Heart Hospice. “During Vietnam, when we came home, we were not appreciated, and we were booed when we got off the planes, and spit on, and everything else, so it’s kind of good to come back and now have recognition for what we did,” Harwell said.

The center offers student veterans a place to study, connect and learn about available resources.

Master Sergeant Natalie Gorman, a 21-year Marine Corps veteran, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. “Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar, it’s more than a ceremony or a flag or a moment of silence,” Gorman said. “It’s an opportunity to recognize the people behind the uniform.”

Esther and Kevin Lohrke met in the Navy and later married. Both said they have had histories with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “It’s just learning to manage to deal with it, more so than curing it,” Kevin said. He credited therapy, and those around him, with helping manage PTSD.

Brookshire Brothers opened its new flagship store in Lufkin with a soft opening at 6 a.m. Wednesday.