On March 29, 2012, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. This date was designated by President Obama to honor veterans of the Vietnam War, marking the day the last American combat troops withdrew from Vietnam on March 29, 1973.
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 was signed into law by President Donald J. Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
Approximately 2,700,000 American men and women served in Vietnam. It was the first time America failed to welcome its veterans back as heroes. Many of us were attacked personally by those who opposed the war.
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 no one could determine where they would serve.
In 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 57,939 members of U.S. armed forces who had died or were missing because of the war. Over the following years, additions to the list have brought the total past 58,200.
On 29 March, National Vietnam War Veterans Day, please give thanks to our Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Rick Gale
Vietnam Veterans of Southwest Montana