The members of the 137th Engineer Company that served in Vietnam are having a reunion in Junction City during Sundown Salute.

They helped build the Milford Lake Dam before going to Vietnam. During a special presentation Tuesday night at the Courtyard by Marriott convention center they were presented Legacy Lapel Pins which are being awarded to Vietnam veterans. Lieutenant General Retired Perry Wiggins told the veterans as he presented them with the lapel pins it was on behalf of the nation and the Secretary of Defense. The pins were a recognition of their honorable and faithful service to this nation.

Unit Commander, Gary Farris said the members of the company did a lot of work on the Milford Reservoir before deploying to Vietnam. “We had formed our friendships and bonds with one another before we even left for Vietnam. It was very difficult to see one of our brothers killed. So each and every time we have a reunion I want to honor our guys that didn’t come back.”

Junction City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald spoke during the ceremony and provided the Legacy Lapel Pins for presentation to the veterans. “It was to welcome the 137th Engineer Company Vietnam veterans home. I think we did that. We were able to have our Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Combat Veterans, some city officials, some folks from Manhattan here to welcome them back home.”

The members of the unit will ride in the Sundown Salute parade on Wednesday.