Golden Valley Veterans Reflect on Service to Country

Retired military service members at a senior living center in Golden Valley spent Veterans Day reflecting on the time they spent serving their country.

There are 50 veterans that call Covenant Living in Golden Valley their home.

One of them is U.S. Marine Corps veteran Mark Nelson. He spoke with CCX News ahead of a free brunch for the veterans.

“Well it was a wonderful experience for me in the Marine Corps, he said. “I loved it and hated it at the same time. But as the Marine Corps motto is, a Marine never retires, he’s always a Marine — lifetime. And I had a lot of very interesting experiences on the East Coast, on the West Coast. I never landed in Vietnam but I spent a lot of time aboard ship.”

Veterans Mark Nelson and Tom Perks talk near an honorary photo display at Covenant Living in Golden Valley.

Covenant Living set up a photo display honoring their resident veterans.

Another veteran living at Covenant is Tom Perks. He spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam.

He said recognition was slow to come to American troops coming home from the Vietnam War.

“Prior to 911, most Vietnam vets were not very well respect in this country,” Perks said. “In fact, I remember coming back from overseas and having people — in San Diego of all places — spit on me in the street. So I hardly ever wore my uniform because it was difficult. Since 911, just after 911, I visited an event where the vets were honored, and that was the first time in all the years since I’d retired that I was honored. That was 20 years after I retired.”

Perks typically tries to wear his uniform on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to honor his fallen comrades. 

Golden Valley