29 Mar - Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day



Good Evening Everyone – VVA/AVVA, All Veterans and Veterans Supporters:

After Utah became the 23rd State to gain observance of March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day in legislation spearheaded by Dennis Howland, Representative Curt Oda, Utah State Council and Chapter 1079 Vietnam Veterans of America, we finally got our national day with the action of newly elected President Donald Trump last March.

I am organizing a ceremony at the Utah State Capitol for March 29, 1100 hours.  Will include a placing of a wreath at the memorial to honor the 366 young men from Utah lost in our War.  WILL BE ON THE WEST LAWN AT THE MEMORIAL.  PROBABLY NOT IN THE ROTUNDA.  I HOPE OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE ON BOARD WITH PROCLAMATIONS HONORING ALL VIETNAM VETERANS.

Next year a ceremony from our Wall which will be dedicated July 14 in Layton Commons Park.  Please share this info and the Secretary's message below).
Thank you!
Dennis Howland
Utah State Council President
Vietnam Veterans of America
801-389-1893 

MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VA Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
In 2017, President Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act designating March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.  Our Nation's Vietnam War Commemoration is an opportunity for all Americans to recognize, honor, and thank our Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice during one of the longest wars in our country's history.  As a commemorative partner, VA joins nearly 10,000 organizations across the Nation supporting the Department of Defense in this mission to honor and thank our Vietnam Veterans.  I encourage all VA leaders to either host ceremonies or participate in community events during the period March 25 – 29, 2018, to express our tremendous gratitude to this generation of warriors and their families.
The commemoration recognizes all men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the United States' involvement in Vietnam—November 1, 1955 – May 7, 1975.  Nine million Americans, approximately 7.2 million living today, served during that period.  The commemoration makes no distinction between Veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or were stationed elsewhere during those 20 years.  All answered the call to duty.
Thank you for your continued service to VA and America's Veterans.
David J. Shulkin, M.D.