Returning Viet Nam War Veterans Dog Tags

Recently in the news I heard a report about the return of the remains of two of our soldiers who lost their lives, like so many, in Viet Nam. It was a bitter-sweet story, but reminded me of a story that I'd heard last year on television, and saved, and thought I'd share it here, a positive and inspiring story.

It is a story about a woman, Martha Roskam, who has spent 7 years returning Dog Tags to the families of the Viet Nam Veterans they belong to...whether it be the original owner of the tag, or surviving family members. I had never heard about this before, though it appears from their website that it has been in the news...she has a son who is an Illinois Congressman, former State Senator, who was able to help get the effort started. Just another one of those relatively quiet things that people do that make a difference.

Mrs. Roskam was in Viet Nam on a business trip with her husband, and like any woman, decided to do some shopping. She passed someone selling things on a street in Ho Chi Min City in a flea market setting. She came upon a wicker basket full of coins, and on top of the coins she found 37 dog tags strung on a plastic string, she was deeply moved as she looked through them, knowing what they meant, but wasn't certain what to do, so left them. She went home and told her husband about the dog tags, and he insisted that she return and pick them up the next day, which she did for 54 cents each.

She returned the last one to it's owner after a 7 year mission that started in August of 2001. Some dog tags were returned to families that had lost their sons, many to the original owner.

For more on this effort and story, please visit roskamdogtag.com. I can only imagine how many hugs you have enjoyed, Mr. and Mrs. Roskam, and may I add my virtual (((hug))) and thanks for what you've done to bring smiles to faces of those who gave, and saw so much during a very difficult time in our history.