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"We were spit on. We were treated with absolute disrespect. Everybody blamed us for the war, (the) war was very unpopular, it ripped our entire nation apart," Fulmer said.

Fulmer, an Auburn resident and chaplain for聽Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 704, said that reception of soldiers from that era has since improved by leaps by and bounds.

("It's a) world of difference. People are now saying 'Thank you for your service.' It's a long long time coming," Fulmer said Friday before a crowd of people ranging from small children to white-haired veterans and their families holding American flags.

Fulmer was one of many veterans who attended the聽鈥淩emembrance: Voices from the Wall鈥� ceremony honoring those who served in the war at The Wall That Heals聽鈥� a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.聽鈥� being hosted at the Port Byron Central School District.

Crowds of people either near or in a tent that included war veterans, their families and others 鈥� many bearing American flags聽鈥� witnessed聽the ceremony, which included a tolling of the bells for the 27 people from Cayuga County who died during the war.聽

Howard Nelson, poet and Professor Emeritus of English at Cayuga Community College, was the featured speaker for the ceremony. He discussed the importance of recalling those who sacrificed their lives.

"As I read the names of the 27 servicemen from Cayuga County (who) died in Vietnam, it was a solemn experience. As I read the names of these men I did not know, the birthday 1947 (caught) my eye. The year I was born. Their lives were very short. They were my contemporaries, guys I could have gone to school with, guys who were exactly my age and would be my age now," Nelson said.

For the bell portion of the event, as the name, rank, birth date and death date of each of the 27 servicemen were read off, a Port Byron student placed a custom dog tag with the name of one of the deceased on a small tree, a small bundle of roses was placed on the panels of the wall and a volunteer rang a bell from the Port Byron Fire Department three times.

Nick Valenti, central district director of the New York State Council of the VVA was among those who also spoke at the event. In addition, Vietnam veterans who were at the ceremony were given pins commemorating the 50th anniversary of the conflict.

Before the ceremony, Sharon Mills and Cindy Credelling, the sister and surviving wife, respectively, of Army Capt. Larry Dewey, said they believe聽the confident, constantly smiling聽man they remember would be pleased about the exhibit.

Dewey was killed in action May 1971 at the age of 25.

Credelling talked about what she wanted people who witnessed the exhibit over the weekend to take away from the experience.

"All the names (on the wall), those are all people who all have stories and all have families to tell and the importance of remembering (them,)"聽Credelling said.