Local Veterans Will Meet on March 29 to Observe National Vietnam War Veterans Day

On March 29th, Americans will come together to commemorate the service and sacrifices made by the nearly 3 million service members who served in Vietnam. March 29th, 1973 was the day United States Military Assistance Command in Vietnam was disestablished and the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. On and around this same day Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

Local Veterans will meet at the RCB Bank at 14th and Prospect in Ponca City on Tuesday, March 29th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to commemorate National Vietnam War Veterans Day. All brothers and sisters are invited to come by and visit.

In 2007, the 110th Congress incorporated language in House of Representatives (H.R.) 4986 authorizing the secretary of defense to conduct a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Section 598 (Public Law 110-181) of the 2008 NDAA specifically addresses Commemoration activities.

H.R. 4986 was signed into law as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008 by 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush on January 28th, 2008.

In 2012, 44th U.S President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation, designating March 29th as the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day marking the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam — March 29th, 1973. Only U.S. embassy personnel and support staff remained in South Vietnam until the fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 was signed into law by 45th U.S. President Donald J. Trump, which named March 29th National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The bill amended the U.S. flag code to include National Vietnam War Veterans Day as a day on which the flag should be flown.

“The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colors and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission,” the proclamation states. “It is a story of Americans from every corner of our nation who left the warmth of family to serve the country they loved. It is a story of patriots who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harm’s way to save a friend, who fought hour after hour, day after day to preserve the liberties we hold dear.”

The proclamation also states: “In one of the war’s most profound tragedies, many of these men and women came home to be shunned or neglected — to face treatment unbefitting their courage and a welcome unworthy of their example. We must never let this happen again.”

There is no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period. All were called to serve and none could self-determine where they would serve.

More than 58,000 Americans were killed and many thousands more were wounded and injured or determined to be missing.

“Join the Nation … thank a Vietnam veteran!”

Sources:

The US Dept. of Defense

https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/