October Marks Agent Orange Awareness Month

Weirton, W.Va. (WTRF) The City of Weirton honored veterans of the Vietnam War with a special proclamation, marking the beginning of Agent Orange Awareness Month.

Weirton Mayor Harold Miller also recognized Veteran Harold D. Wolverton, who suffers from the effects of agent orange and is a purple heart recipient.

More than 2.8 million US Veterans were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

“For so many years, we didn’t know what was wrong with ourselves or other veterans that we knew that had all kinds of medical issues. We didn’t understand what it was or what the problem was. And then once they started, you know, the government started looking into everything. Then we knew then we knew why we had cancer, why we had different issues with the diabetes and other things that was going on. We knew we were going to be shot at, but we didn’t know we were going to be poisoned.”

George Ash-Vietnam Veteran

Many veterans and civilians were killed from the effects, and those who survived face serious medical issues today, including various types of cancer, and diabetes.

After many years of fighting, the veterans are finally getting the care and compensation they deserve.

Now, the City of Weirton honors all veterans by providing purple heart parking spaces and other memorials and flags.

The city manager says it’s a year-round effort to make sure all veterans of Weirton are recognized for their service.

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