As one of more than nine million Veterans who served in Vietnam and other parts of the world during the Vietnam era from 1955-75, I am especially grateful that we are now being officially recognized and thanked for our service. Today, a coordinated nationwide campaign is being led by the Department of Defense and supported by VA as part of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration Program. For those of us who served when called upon then, it has been a long time coming.
The recognition is being carried out through a series of events nationwide at which Vietnam Veterans – and Vietnam-era Veterans – are being presented with an official Vietnam lapel pin by top government and military officials. A national event will take place at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington on March 29. In fact, President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation that declaring this date as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
The amazing impact of a simple “thank you for your service” can be seen by the emotional expression on their faces when Vietnam Veterans receive their special pins at these ceremonies – often in the presence of family members and other Veterans.
Like most Vietnam Veterans, I returned home from the War to a somewhat hostile political environment in the United States. The impact of the anti-War protests across the nation in the late 1960s and early 1970s fostered an anti-Vietnam Veteran atmosphere here at home that lasted for nearly 20 years after the war
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