The onset of the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of most American Legion-sponsored National Vietnam War Veterans Day in 2020. As vaccination efforts continue throughout the nation, American Legion Family members are scheduling safe ways to commemorate the day set aside to pay tribute to the 9 million Americans who served during the Vietnam War era, to the 58,000 names memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and to those who never received the recognition they deserved when they returned to America from war.
This year National Vietnam War Veterans Day is Monday, March 29. A few days earlier, on March 25, American Legion Hardin Post 113 in Elizabethtown, Ky., will conduct an altered version of its annual dinner that in 2018 and 2019 honored a combined 1,000 Vietnam veterans and their family members.
Rather than honoring the veterans via a sit-down meal, this year’s event will take place in Post 113’s parking lot. Vietnam veterans will remain in their vehicles and are asked to drive around the post in designated lanes to receive a medal or commemorative coin and words of gratitude from volunteers.
The post also has teamed up with the General George Patton Museum of Leadership in Fort Knox to place military Jeeps in the post's parking lot, complete with drivers wearing military re-enactment uniforms. And a quarter mile of U.S. flags will be spaced along both sides of the road leading up to Post 113. The post is encouraging members of the community to stand on the sidewalks along the road to hold homemade signs of gratitude or U.S. flags.
“We just wanted to let them know that we haven’t forgotten about them and that we still care about them,” Post 113 Adjutant Brian Knoch told The News Enterprise. “I would love to see a lot of the community get involved.”
The following are a few more examples of what American Legion posts are planning to commemorate the day. If your post is hosting a National Vietnam Veterans Day event, please share it on www.legiontown.org.
Maine
In Camden, War Memorial Post 30 will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the Veterans Honor Roll monument on the Camden Village Green on March 29. Camden's Veterans Honor Roll has 297 names engraved into it reflecting the men and women who served in the Vietnam War, with more names to be added by the town of Camden.
Ohio
In Painesville, American Legion Post 336 will host its fifth annual Welcome Home Breakfast for Vietnam veterans on March 27. In addition to breakfast, the event will include music of the era, period costuming and patriotic activities. Carry-out also will be available; the breakfast is free to Vietnam veterans, their spouses and immediate family.
Tennessee
In Kingsport, American Legion Post 3 is teaming up with the Long Island Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 979 for a ceremony March 29 at the Kingsport Veterans Memorial.
Texas
On March 29 in Royse City, Laramore-Osborne American Legion Post 100 will stage a Vietnam Veterans Tribute that will start at the Royse City Police Department with the reading of a proclamation by Mayor Pro Tem Clay Ellis. Following that, American Legion Riders will join with the Royse City Fire and Police departments and members of the Dallas Model A Club to provide a mini parade at Royse City Medical Lodge to honor a Vietnam veteran who is a resident there.
“We have about 50 Vietnam veterans in our organization, but we are asking any Vietnam veteran to join us for the proclamation. They do not have to be a Legion member,” Post 100 Second Vice Commander Hayde Spencer told the Royse City Herald-Banner. “We only want to recognize them. It means more than you know to honor these men and women who came back from Vietnam and never received a hero’s welcome.”
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March 23, 2021 at 07:55PM
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Share how you're honoring Vietnam War Veterans Day - The American Legion
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