Reagan’s 1984 Memorial Day Speech: A Healing Moment for Vietnam Veterans
In an essay, Stephen Lewis reflects on President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 Memorial Day address, which honored an unidentified Vietnam veteran buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He describes the speech as a moment that “healed the wound.”
Reagan emphasized that “We’re not writing the final chapter,” mentioning that America’s involvement in Vietnam couldn’t conclude without a thorough accounting for those still unaccounted for. His words aimed to uplift the spirits of veterans and their families.
“Vietnam Unknown has never heard such cheers,” Lewis noted.
Lewis details the struggles Vietnam veterans faced, particularly the harsh treatment they received upon returning home. Some were subjected to disdain from fellow Americans—spat on, insulted, and labeled as “Baby killers.” This stigma lingered long after the war ended.
Two years after the Vietnam War Memorial was completed, Reagan recognized the importance of addressing the lingering pain from that era. He sought to foster understanding of the hardships veterans endured during his speech.
The president acknowledged the anxiety military families felt when loved ones went missing in action. Reagan remarked, “They live day and night with a sense of anxiety and emptiness that is unfathomable to us,” showcasing his awareness of their struggles.
Lewis points out that Reagan’s speech echoed the themes of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, intertwining a sense of reverence and reflection. He also recalled an anecdote about a former Marine dining with college students who, despite being too young to remember the war, showed appreciation for the veterans.
Reagan reflected on the unknown soldier’s life, contemplating whether he played as a child in America’s cities or worked on a family farm. He concluded his speech with heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Today we are proud to say, ‘Thank you, my dear son. May God hold you in the arms of love.’”
Lewis concludes that for many who experienced the loss from this conflict, the war never truly ended. Questions remain unanswered, and the sorrow often lies just beneath the surface, something Reagan understood deeply during his time.
