THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 2, 2022 Page 3 Rolling to Washington Vietnam Era Veterans ready to leave on Sept. 11 for fi ve-day bus trip to Nation’s capital to see and feel “The Wall” By Mark E. Vogler U .S. Marine veteran Michael Arsenault knows it will be a moving experience when he returns to Washington, D.C., later this month to view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial again. “When you see the names of men you were with when they died, it gets emotional,” the 74-year-old Saugus resident said in an interview this week as he sat at a table at Saugus VFW Post 2346. “I’ve been there before; it has a personal impact and it’s something worth revisiting. I was with the third Battalion, third Marines. We lost over 100 guys – seven of them who I knew. I have the tracings of seven names on the wall, and I got to lay a wreath on the wall the last time I was down there,” he said. Arsenault, a Vietnam veteran E-4 corporal, was among a group of 40 Vietnam Era Veterans from Saugus, Wakefield and Melrose who enjoyed a “Roll to Washington 2022” orientation breakfast at the VFW Post on Tuesday (Aug. 30). They will board a bus early on Sept. 11 and depart on a five-day, fournight coach bus trip to the nation’s capital to see and feel “The Wall.” The trip will also include wreath-laying ceremonies at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and visits at various memorial sites as well as other stops in the D.C. area. All attendees will be staying at Embassy Suites in Vienna, Va. Joining Arsenault at the Tuesday morning breakfast was Joe Johnson, 72, of Saugus, a Vietnam Era veteran who served as a Specialist 4 with the U.S. Army. “I was in Washington years ago, but that was before they built ‘The Wall.’ So, I’m looking forward to going down to see it,” Johnson said in an interview. “Just being with guys from the same era is going to be part of the healing process for me. These are guys who served their country during crazy times – during a period when the veterans were not treated well,” Johnson said. “I’m thankful to all of the sponsors who made this trip possible. I’m looking to learn a lot and bring back what I learn from this trip.” Arsenault and Johnson are longtime Saugus residents and friends who grew up in Chelsea, a community that suffered significant tragedy during the Vietnam War. “We had 10 people who died during the Vietnam War,” Arsenault said. A trip to promote self-healing and recognition This will be the third “Roll to Washington” trip for Joseph “Dennis” Gould, a Vietnam Era veteran who helped organize the previous two trips and this one. “We raised $64,000 out of the goal of $70,000 we had set for ourselves. And if we need the full $70,000, we already have an offer from one of our donors to fill the need,” said Gould, who is serving as chair of this year’s “roll” committee and will be part of the group that’s bound for Washington. “This is all about thanking the Vietnam Era veterans for their service and welcoming them home,” Gould said. “I hope this trip promotes self-healing and gives the ROLLING | SEE PAGE 7 11 Vietnam Era Veterans from Saugus will be honored guests on an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., this month. They were treated to a kickoff breakfast at Saugus VFW Post #2346 on Tuesday. Pictured from left to right: First row: Dan Roden, Joseph “Dennis” Gould, William Boomhower, Joe Dion and Michael Arsenault; second row: Jay Pinette (retired Saugus Veteran Services Offi cer), WIN Waste Innovations Senior Marketing Strategist Michelle Nadeau, WIN Waste Innovations Community Relations Specialist Jack Walsh, John Sullivan, John Cannon, Lester Markovitz, Bruce Mauch, Don Jacobs, Jim Marshall and Joe Johnson. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler) This weekend and throughout the year, we celebrate all those who work to make our community better. 100 Salem Turnpike, Saugus, MA 01906 WIN-WASTE.COM
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