Each year a Gilchrist, a hospice I volunteer with to do ‘Military Service Recognition Ceremonies’ for elderly WWII, Korean and Vietnam war veterans while they reside in hospice care, presents a wonderful “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day!” celebration here in Maryland.

Sadly, due to the Coronavirus restriction this 2021 version will be done virtually – no less important in the least though – and it is and has been an important event for those veterans and their families to be a part of. The other celebrations preceding this year’s have been held at Martins West – a beautiful reception and wedding venue outside of Baltimore and boy, does Gilchrist do it up well! Stay tuned for the 2022 version of this as it is truly a wonderful time…and bring your appetite because the food is plentiful and awesome.

Here is a link to their video for this years celebration, I think we all appreciate what Gilchrist is doing for this cause. Please – if you know any family, relatives, or friends who served in Vietnam then I personally ask you pass this info along to them so that they too can be recognized, thanked and get the true ‘welcome home’ that many didn’t get when they returned from Vietnam and overseas. Also – this celebration is for ALL Vietnam Veterans, not just those who live here in Maryland!

(The link in the graphic does not work – see the links below it please.)

Here is the event press release Gilchrist has on their website – please have those you know who would like to do this put their names into the registration and help them to mark it on their calendars:

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration

Gilchrist’s Virtual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration will be held on Sunday, March 28, 2021, at 3 p.m. EST. We are privileged to host this special virtual celebration of service to honor and thank the men and women in our community who served during the Vietnam War. Registration is required.

Gilchrist’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration honors the veterans in our care as well as all of the veterans in our community, and coincides with Maryland’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan in 2015. This celebration is one of the many ways Gilchrist recognizes the unique needs of veterans and thanks them for their sacrifice and service to our country. We are proud to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Learn more about Gilchrist’s We Honor Veterans program or call our veterans coordinator at 444-849-8337 or email kkahl@gilchristcares.org.

Again – in the years I have been volunteering for and attending these ceremonies I have spoken with many, many attendees and their wives and each and every one said they had never thought this formal “Thank You for Your Service” would ever happen. But it does and thank you Gilchrist for making it so…

Reed H. Kohberger, LCDR, USCG (Ret.)

Here is a recap by Dan72 of our Pitt 70 – Wake Forest 53 win

How on earth did we ever lose to this team earlier this year? OK, Xman could not, or did not want to, cover his three point shooter who was red hot in that game, but still geez. I blamed Xman entirely for that loss as he was out of control all night on offense.

Tonight, in what was a sloppy game, Pitt dominated the paint outrebounding Wake 42-23.  While Pitt seemed to shoot badly they ended up shooting 46.2% from the floor and 40% from the three point line. Turnovers were 13-9 Pitt on the wrong side.  

First, I am ecstatic that Pitt won on Senior Night and after what might have been the worst week for our team since Stallings roamed the floor. I see hope for the future for Pitt as a team playing together in a Capel system …but…we are severely lacking in talent vs the rest of the ACC. Today, I saw we offered a 6’10” center today from NC.  We need to make many more offers!!!

Now, to answer some of the questions on tonight’s blog. First let me say that I could not coach a team under the Covid circumstances and obstacles of a short preseason (which caused the St Francis fiasco), never knowing until last minute who and/or when you are playing next, being away from family and friends and having cotton swabs stuck up your nose daily. This has been a very strange season.

It’s no wonder coaches call strange time outs, players don’t know what sets we are in, etc. There’s been virtually no time to practice… and now a new set of players need to learn to play together. Disjointed will be our motto until we start next year.

Next I would tell you that any coach would rather face a team with only three scorers (no matter how good they were) than a team like Pitt tonight, while not as talented, but a threat for everyone on the floor and bench to score.

I am somewhat perturbed though that it has taken the recent events to get Sibande on the floor as I called for him to start and play some point guard from day one, but he had a great night …again…leading a scoring challenged team with 23 points. Champ, still not looking right physically, had another double-double with 20 points and 13 boards. Horton again, was no help with zero points in 11 minutes. However, I saw some promise with Jeffries who had eight points and like all players he just needs time on the floor.

So it’s on to Clemson, and I have to say I like our chances but Pitt should have won by 30 tonight. We are 10-10 and I would like to see Pitt finish with a winning record. Beat the 15-5 Clemson Tigers on Saturday to win one last one in the ACC and that will help a lot in the off-season.

H2P