Vietnam War Vets Day at the Commissary

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The Spangdahlem Air Base commissary will be hosting a commemorative ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on March 29 to recognize veterans who served on active duty during the Vietnam War era.

All Vietnam-era veterans who served from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975 are invited to attend and receive a lapel pin as part of the commissary ceremony.

“The Defense Commissary Agency is proud to be a part of this national effort to thank our Vietnam-era veterans for their service and sacrifice,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, DOD special assistant for commissary operations. “These ceremonies are a significant way to reach our veterans, and we applaud the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration for being in the forefront of this observance.”

This is the fifth year for the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration event which annually honors the service of living Vietnam War veterans on March 29, Vietnam Veterans Day.

Vietnam Veterans Day was first established by presidential proclamation in 2012 leading to the start of annual observance events in 2014. The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 further established the events as a national observance to recognize Vietnam War-era veterans for their service.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Brazelton, a four-time Silver Star recipient and former Vietnam War prisoner of war, reflected on the Vietnam Veteran lapel pin during the July 8, 2015, congressional ceremony.

“I have had a number of medals pinned on me in my day and this is certainly the highest ranking and the most honors I have received for any pinning ceremony,” Brazelton said. “Even though it might just be a lapel pin to a lot of people, this is like a medal to the Vietnam veterans.”

U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Bailey, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, will be presenting lapel pins to Vietnam-era veterans during the event at the commissary on March 29.

Approximately 9 million U.S. military members served on active duty during the Vietnam War era. Out of the 2.7 million U.S. service members who served in Vietnam, more than 58,000 were killed and more than 304,000 wounded.

For more information, go to vietnamwar50th.com.