The 1960s were a troubling time here in America. At least it appeared that way at the time. It's likely that history will look back on today and declare the same thing, although I have no idea what they'll call it. Are we living in the twenty teens or just what is the official name of this time period? The 1900s are behind us now.

As a young male in the 1960s, everything revolved around the draft. If you were attending higher education or had a medical condition, you were left out; otherwise, your life revolved around your lottery number in the draft.

There was a war going on. We didn't know much about it. Communism had been a threat all during our growing up and somehow this war was going to keep us safe from that. I believe the perception of most young males at that time was that if you had a low number you would get drafted, assigned to the infantry, go to Vietnam, and die. I can't speak for everyone, but that's how it looked to me.

I was covered. Going to UMaine, I had a deferment and put all those thoughts aside. However, there was a problem looming on my horizon. College wasn't for me.

I had no idea what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do and I was taking my parents money while I tried to find myself. I decided to leave school. Probably one of the dumbest things I've ever done. I could have just ridden it out, got a degree in something and lived a completely different life. But I didn't. Now the draft was an issue. Being a proactive type person, I decided to enlist in the Navy Seabees. Not because of some patriotic passion to serve my country, but to avoid being drafted into the infantry, going to Vietnam and dying. Turns out that was another poor choice because most of the Seabees were going to Vietnam. Perhaps I should have done a little more research before making that choice.

I didn't go to Vietnam. I should probably share that I chose the Seabees because I had been around equipment and liked operating it, so it seemed like a good fit for a military obligation. My story about building the beginning of Diego Garcia has been shared before and I always enjoy the opportunity to present my slide show of those early days on that significant base. So what? Where is this going?

The military at that time was scorned in America. Scorned is a gentle word for how they were treated. People mixed up political positions with human beings just serving their country. I think we all felt that the Vietnamese were our enemy, but we didn't really understand why or how.

Tens of thousands of American soldiers died over there. Some never came back. Everyone in the military during that time was treated in the most awful way by the people of this country. We were instructed not to stop anywhere in our uniform. Don't get gas for the car, a quart of milk or six pack of beer on the way home. Go home, change and then go out in public. Everywhere a military person went in uniform, they were challenged by being verbally berated or spit upon. It was not a comfortable time to be in the military.

Times have changed. Thank goodness for that. It feels so good to see the recognition for our military that has been the norm for some time now which brings me to Memorial Day 2016. During that weekend, The Traveling Vietnam Wall will be the General Henry Knox Museum, Montpelier, in Thomaston. The Wall will open at noon on Thursday, May 26. It will be open 24 hours a day until Monday evening, Memorial Day.

Throughout the weekend there are special ceremonies, and Boots On The Ground on Saturday afternoon is the welcome home for Vietnam Veterans that they never got.

If you were around and never thanked a Vet for your freedom back then, here's your chance just by showing up and paying your respects to the folks who didn't come home and the ones that did. This whole thing was a long time ago. Fifty years. Maybe you weren't even born. A good chance to see history first hand.

Bill Packard lives in Union and is the founder of BPackard.com.  He is a speaker, author, small business coach and consultant.