‘Booed ... and spit on’: Tyler veteran recalls Vietnam-era homecoming, now receives recognition

Veterans at The Hamptons of Tyler Senior Living in southeast Tyler received a pin and a certificate from Heart to Heart Hospice.

The center offers student veterans a place to study, connect and learn about available resources.

The Tyler Chamber of Commerce is thanking local veterans with a free lunch, gift bags and a ceremony, said Erin Whitney, co-chair of the chamber’s veterans committee.

Master Sergeant Natalie Gorman, a 21-year Marine Corps veteran, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. “Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar, it’s more than a ceremony or a flag or a moment of silence,” Gorman said. “It’s an opportunity to recognize the people behind the uniform.”

Esther and Kevin Lohrke met in the Navy and later married. Both said they have had histories with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “It’s just learning to manage to deal with it, more so than curing it,” Kevin said. He credited therapy, and those around him, with helping manage PTSD.