Vietnam vets to be honored June 30

A Thermopolis woman and her brother-in-law are hoping to honor all Vietnam veterans in the Big Horn Basin — Washakie, Hot Springs, Big Horn, Park and Fremont counties — in an event on Sunday, June 30.

Amie Toyne said that a Band-Aid for the Heart pin, created “to help heal Vietnam veterans’ hearts for the treatment they received when returning home from the Vietnam War” will be presented at the Thermopolis VFW Post 2281, 302 Broadway Street, on Sunday, June 30, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. 

Amie’s brother-in-law, retired Air Force Major Mike Toyne, will give a brief talk and present the pins to the Vietnam veterans in attendance.

Refreshments will be available, and a meal will be provided after.

To provide adequate seating, people are asked to RSVP with the name of the veteran and number of persons attending by texting or calling Toyne at 307-388-4865 or email amieptoyne@gmail.com.

Amie Toyne said Mike Toyne told her the pin was first presented in 2001 by the woman who created it, Monica Harvey, of Stapleton, Nebraska. It is in the shape of a heart with a Band-Aid in the middle and made from the same metal as dog tags. According to Mike Toyne, Harvey would present the pin with a welcome home message. Harvey passed in 2019, but her mission of welcoming home Vietnam veterans continues through others.

Amie witnessed Mike giving the pins to Vietnam veterans at a presentation in Iowa and felt it needed to happen more. She said her brother-in-law, who resides in Omaha, is coming to Lander for a presentation, so she reached out to him about doing something for Vietnam veterans here.

So why are Amie and her brother-in-law honoring Vietnam War veterans? Toyne’s husband, Leon Toyne, was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Army. He passed away in 2018.

Amie said she and Leon lived all over the Big Horn Basin including Washakie, Big Horn and Fremont counties.

“We know a lot of people,” she said, which is why the Vietnam War veterans pinning event is open to the veterans in the Big Horn Basin.