Fun run serves as Welcome Home for Vietnam veterans

Grand Valley's Student Veterans Organization will host a 5K fun run/walk on the Allendale Campus to celebrate and officially welcome home Vietnam veterans and their families.

The "Welcome Home 5K" is set for Sunday, March 28, at 2 p.m. Students, faculty and staff members, their families and members of the public are encouraged to participate. The course will start by Lubbers Stadium and continue by the Laker Turf Building through south campus, ending at the Student Services Building. Refreshments will be served in the Kirkhof Center following the event.

The idea behind this new event is credited to Diane Roper, Facilities Services staff member. Roper’s husband, Steven, served in the Army during the Vietnam War and the couple is active in local and national veterans organizations. Roper approached GVSU’s Work Life Connections with an idea to host an event, then the Student Veterans group became involved. Roper said a recent U.S. House resolution passed, asking communities to welcome home vets who never received a proper welcome after the Vietnam War.

Also helping with the event is Julie Yunker, GVSU Police Academy director. Yunker served in the Air Force before enrolling in college. She said police academy recruits will help staff the race course.

Grand Valley’s March event also serves as a precursor to a larger event in Grand Rapids on July 3, when thousands of Vietnam vets and their families will be welcomed home at an event at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Participation in the Grand Valley 5K is free; participants are asked to bring a baseball hat as a registration fee. The hats will be collected and given to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. John Koch, member of the Student Veterans Organization, said when veterans take bus trips to West Michigan Whitecaps games, many don’t have hats to wear.

For more information about the fun run, visit www.gvsu.edu/veterans, information and registration links are at the bottom of the Web site.