Joe Imel/Daily NewsVeterans Danny Young (left) and Malcolm Cherry, both of Bowling Green, salute as the colors are posted this morning during Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce coffee hour at Phil Moore Park. In recognition of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, veterans were honored during the program.

“I don’t think you and I were ever enemies. We were just soldiers,” said an emotional Dan Cherry, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general.

Cherry said those were the words North Vietnamese pilot Lt. Nguyen Hong told him when he presented Hong with a copy of his book, “My Enemy, My Friend.”

Cherry recounted the tale of how he shot Hong’s jet out of the air during the Vietnam War, and later not only met the man he shot down, but became good friends with him.

Cherry’s presentation to more than 250 people, including about 60 veterans, gathered in the gymnasium at Phil Moore Park during a patriotic Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce coffee hour this morning kicked off the Memorial Day weekend.

Before Cherry spoke, members of the Bowling Green Fire Department Honor Guard presented the colors. The Cavemen Chorus sang the national anthem and a medley of the official songs of each branch of the military.

Cherry described how he eventually found and brought to Bowling Green the F-4D Phantom D he flew on that April day in 1972 when his and Hong’s paths first crossed. The F-4, officially dedicated about a year ago, was the first plane in the Aviation Heritage Park.

The park will double in size this summer with the addition of a F9F Panther, which will be presented at a June 26 fundraiser.

During his presentation, Cherry emphasized the need for reconciliation, for soldiers and civilians.

“Holding grudges just doesn’t work for anybody,” Cherry said.

He also said that during this weekend, all veterans, living and dead, need to be honored.

“Think not only about the men and women who have given their lives for our country, but also about those still serving,” Cherry said.

Retired Army Col. Robert Spiller agreed with Cherry.

This weekend, Spiller said he will put flags up and play the organ at the American Legion on Monday to honor those who gave their lives defending the county, but he is especially concerned for the area’s more than 19,000 veterans.

Memorial Day weekend is “important for those who have given their lives,” Spiller said. “But those who are still here must be taken care of.”

— For more information about the Aviation Heritage Park, visit www.aviationheritagepark.com.