Any service member who served on active duty, regardless of location, between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, is included in the commemoration, which runs through 2025.
More than 11,000 commemorative partners conduct events in their local communities throughout the year to recognize Vietnam Veterans and their families. People can learn about events in their local community by visiting https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/events/. Visitors can search for event by name, date, country, zip code and category. The site also allows visitors to search within a 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 mile distance of a zip code. While Vietnam War Veterans Day is March 29, events run throughout the year.
Vietnam Veterans are eligible to receive a lapel pin during these events. The event website, which is updated each week, offers details on upcoming events. Vietnam Veterans can also receive a lapel pin by visiting the Commemorative Partner Map at https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/partners/partner_map/. Vietnam Veterans should contact a commemorative partner to find out details on the next event or if they have lapel pins on hand to present.
Objectives
The commemorative partner program will include activities and ceremonies to achieve the following objectives:
- Thank and honor Veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war (POW), or listed as missing in action (MIA), for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States; and to thank and honor the families of these Veterans.
- Highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of Federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
- Pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War.
- Highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.
- Recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.
The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Secretary of Defense to conduct a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and, “in conducting the commemorative program, the Secretary shall coordinate, support, and facilitate other programs and activities of the Federal Government, State and local governments, and other persons and organizations in commemoration of the Vietnam War.”
To learn more about the program visit their site at https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/ or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VietnamWar50th/.
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