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<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; David Wenzel lost three limbs in the Vietnam War when he stepped on a landmine.</p><p>But the injuries he suffered have not stopped him from making a difference in the lives of others.</p><p>At a picnic Saturday held on the grounds of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, Wenzel told attendees the challenges of life often provide unexpected opportunities for success.</p><p>The former mayor of Scranton, who served from 1986 to 90, also emphasized the value of veterans spending time with other veterans, learning about available services and sharing life experiences.</p><p>&#8220;I still think about the war everyday,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But I don&#8217;t dwell on it.&#8221;</p><p>Wenzel encouraged Vietnam veterans to be proud of their service.</p><p>&#8220;Some say that we lost the war,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But we didn&#8217;t lose the war.&#8221;</p><p>The event drew more than 200 veterans and family members who, despite temperatures that hovered around 90 degrees, seemed to thoroughly enjoy catching up with friends, sharing information and planning for future activities.</p><p>William Smith, of the American Legion and an army veteran, said the event served to continue to offer veterans of the Vietnam War the warm welcome they might not have originally received upon returning from the war.</p><p>Smith, who assists veterans in obtaining benefits, said often veterans are unable to access resources simply because they don&#8217;t know they exist.</p><p>From medical services to disability benefits to financial services, Smith is determined to continue to connect veterans with available resources.</p><p>The Vietnam War, Smith said, was a conflict in which very young men were pulled from their lives and placed in battle.</p><p>Now, he said, 50 years later, the country still owes them a debt of gratitude and quality services.</p><p>Barry Willever, of the Vietnam Veterans of America and an army veteran, said the event and others like it provide a chance for veterans of all wars to share memories, good and bad.</p><p>He emphasized the importance of reducing the stigma of such issues as post traumatic stress disorder, so that veterans feel comfortable asking for help.</p><p>Although he left service in 1969, Willever said he didn&#8217;t talk about his experiences of the war until 1988.</p><p>&#8220;No human being could go through what we went through and not be impacted,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Carl Olshefskie, department commander of the American Legion and mayor of Renovo borough, said he travelled to the area to recognize other veterans and to let them know they are appreciated.</p><p>Olshefskie said the event brought not only veterans together, but also their families.</p><p>Wenzel said he had married his wife only sixth months before being injured.</p><p>&#8220;She drove down to Valley Forge from the Scranton area every night after she had taught all day,&#8221; he said.</p><p>When asked about his faith in spite of losing his legs and arm, various medical issues and the challenges of holding office, Wenzel recalls a night after an eye surgery when he was unable to see.</p><p>He said it was a particularly dark moment, and he began saying the Lord&#8217;s Prayer.</p><p>&#8220;I said the prayer until the words, &#8216;Thy will be done&#8217; and then I stopped,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Because &#8216;Thy will be done&#8217; seemed to be enough.&#8221;</p><p>Wenzel looking back at a successful career, which he said started merely as a part-time project assistant for the city many years ago, said he can relate many of the blessings of his life to the second that he stepped on that landmine.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Daddow-Isaacs American Legion Post 672 Commander James Baloga salutes the flag as he leads in the Pledge of Allegiance at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Daddow-Isaacs American Legion Post 672 Commander James Baloga salutes the flag as he leads in the Pledge of Allegiance at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Vietnam veteran Paul Andruzzi joins in the singing of the national anthem at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Vietnam veteran Paul Andruzzi joins in the singing of the national anthem at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Former Scranton Mayor David Wenzel gives the keynote address at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Former Scranton Mayor David Wenzel gives the keynote address at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning.   Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Committee and American Legion representative Joseph Kelley, left, Second Vice President Vietnam Veterans of America Pennsylvania State Council Barry Willever, former Scranton Mayor and keynote speaker David Wenzel, and Acting VA Medical Center Director Valerie Boytin place a wreath during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Committee and American Legion representative Joseph Kelley, left, Second Vice President Vietnam Veterans of America Pennsylvania State Council Barry Willever, former Scranton Mayor and keynote speaker David Wenzel, and Acting VA Medical Center Director Valerie Boytin place a wreath during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Committee and American Legion representative Joseph Kelley, left, Second Vice President Vietnam Veterans of America Pennsylvania State Council Barry Willever, former Scranton Mayor and keynote speaker David Wenzel, and Acting VA Medical Center Director Valerie Boytin place a wreath during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Committee and American Legion representative Joseph Kelley, left, Second Vice President Vietnam Veterans of America Pennsylvania State Council Barry Willever, former Scranton Mayor and keynote speaker David Wenzel, and Acting VA Medical Center Director Valerie Boytin place a wreath during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">John Emil Sr., of Daddow-Isaacs American Legion Post 672, Dallas, plays Taps at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_5.jpg</photo4><caption4>John Emil Sr., of Daddow-Isaacs American Legion Post 672, Dallas, plays Taps at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Youth volunteer Madison Dompkosky sings &#8216;Thank You Veteran&#8217; to conclude the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL072416VeteransPicnic_6.jpg</photo5><caption5>Youth volunteer Madison Dompkosky sings &#8216;Thank You Veteran&#8217; to conclude the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War at the VA Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday morning. </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Ceremony marks 50th anniversary of conflict</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

50th anniversary of Vietnam marked with ceremony at WB VA Medical Center