Heroes Honor Festival: A patriotic welcome home to Vietnam Veterans

U.S. Army veteran Ben Peterson founded the Heroes Honor Festival to give Vietnam veterans a place to celebrate and be celebrated.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 2:00 p.m. June 1, 2022
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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The skies were abuzz with the sound of A10 Warthogs on Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, at the Daytona International Speedway. Cheering built to a crescendo as the flyover disappeared on the horizon. Over 27,000 people were in attendance at the inaugural Heroes Honor Festival where Vietnam veterans could celebrate and be recognized for their service.

The event was the brainchild of U.S. Army veteran Ben Peterson, who brought it to fruition through his nonprofit organization, Engage Your Destiny. Mentorship, healing and addressing military trauma are key areas the outreach association focuses on for veterans, active military and their families.

“I grew up in a military family where the greatest thing you could do with your life is serve in combat,” he said. “My dad helped tell stories of veterans that had gone through horrific things and found peace and healing through telling their stories.”

When the planes hit the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, that was a pivotal moment for Peterson who decided at the age of 13 that he was going to join the military. One month after he turned 17, his parents signed his papers, and he joined the Army.

In 2009, Peterson arrived on American soil following a one-year tour in Iraq. He was 22 years old and had recently lost seven comrades in combat. As he stepped off the bus that had driven the soldiers to their families, he noticed a squad of 100 Vietnam veterans standing shoulder-to-shoulder, guarding their return home.

“We have been so thankful for Daytona. They’ve just been phenomenal. The local Vietnam veterans chapter sat on the advisory board and sponsored us. Bob Adkins (Chapter president) is a good man. I love that guy.”

BEN PETERSON, founder of Engage Your Destiny and Heroes Honor Festival

 

“Back when I was 22, I passed through them, and it was time for beers and cheeseburgers and cars,” he said. “I think a lot of veterans forget (their homecoming). You’re thinking about a million things —you’re scared about coming home and how to reintegrate into society, dealing with PTSD, processing combat, excited about whatever food you’re going to eat. You’re not thinking about these veterans that are showing up to love on you.”

Peterson never forgot. As he learned more about how the Vietnam veterans were treated disparagingly when they returned home from war, he made it his objective to give these soldiers the “biggest, baddest, most patriotic welcome home in history.”

Florida is home to over 500,000 Vietnam veterans, so the decision to have the festival here made sense. Finding a location that could accommodate a large group of people made the Speedway an ideal choice. A cold call to the Speedway revealed that most everyone there had a connection to a Vietnam veteran, which opened the door to a positive response.

Peterson was overwhelmed by the support he received from the local community. Bob Adkins, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Daytona Beach Chapter 1048, has been a friend to Peterson and a champion of the festival.

“We have been so thankful for Daytona,” Peterson said. “They’ve just been phenomenal. The local Vietnam veterans chapter sat on the advisory board and sponsored us. Bob Adkins is a good man. I love that guy.”

 

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