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.

21 February 2018 - Veterans Benefits Open House at Ivins Nursing Home

State and Federal Benefits Fair

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 - 11am to 3pm

FLYER

16 Feb 2018 - Off Broadway Play - Free to Veterans

Vietnam…Through My Lens

Presidents Day Tribute, from NYC, Off Broadway

February 16 @ 7:00 pm - 8:40 pm  $30 [Free to Veterans]

PLEASE NOTE:
There is more than one performance:

Show plays the following days and times:

Friday Feb 16 at 7 PM  Also on Friday night (opening night) there is going to be a dinner of Vietnamese food that Harmons Cooking and Catering is doing.  It is an additional charge of $20 for anyone that wants the dinner (including Vets).  Dinner including Phô, Mango Sticky Rice and more, will start at 5:30 with the show starting at 7, which is free to Veterans.

Saturday Feb 17 at 2 PM and 7 PM

Sunday Feb 18 at 5 PM

Sunday 2/18 at the VA home there is a shorter show that is free and sponsored by the theater at 1 PM 

  

“Vietnam…through my lens”, written and performed by Stu Richel with photos from his tour in Vietnam. Is a soldier’s reflective journey as a combat photographer through Vietnam and beyond. Presented Off-Broadway at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street) in Manhattan. This critically acclaimed production is now coming to the Center for the Arts at Kayenta.

This play is not a war story of blood and guts, it’s not a political statement. Vietnam…through my lens is one soldier’s intimately personal and unique tale about friendships, trust, and tenacity that travels from the jungles of South East Asia to the “jungle” of Manhattan, highlighted with photographs and video montages, most from Mr. Richel’s tour in Vietnam.

“Complemented by Richel’s own photographs of the era, his lens puts a face on the American soldier, while showcasing his skill in character acting.” – Deborah Greenhut, Playwright, Princeton Research Forum.

Stu Richel has written and performed in many other solo shows; one “Mortal Decisions, a Diary of the Donner Party” (was called “a true work of sublime genius,” by the NY Observer). His other plays include “The Same Cloud” and “The Bugs Don’t Call Me Nigger” Mr. Richel has had principal roles in more than 17 feature films, and dozens of Regional, Off Broadway and other shows in New York City. Stu served from 1968 to 1970. In 1969, he was a combat correspondent with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam.

Website Info

A Press Release:

Coming to Kayenta from New York: Vietnam... through my lens - a soldier's journey as a combat photographer.

A one-man show written and performed by former combat photographer / writer Stu Richel, Vietnam... through my lens is a collection of memories, photos, and stories from his time in the service and the years that followed. Made vivid by projections of his photos, Stu Richel’s story is not, as he puts it, “about guts or glory” or “some political statement.” The play is one soldier’s journey: an intensely personal account of war. Vietnam... through my lens touches the hearts of every audience member differently - in Mr. Richel’s own words, “some remember, some empathize, some think new thoughts.”

 

Performances run February 16-17 at 7:00pm, Sat Matinee at 2 pm and Sunday February 18 at 5:00pm. Advanced tickets may be purchased online at http://bit.ly/KayentaTix. For information on this and other shows visit: KayentaArts.com

“An absolutely engaging, realistic yet primarily light-hearted view of his participation in a war
that tore this country, to shreds… a great tale, no matter what your age.”

Karen D’Onofrio, OffBway Blog