When the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 was signed into law, Vietnam Veterans Day became commemorated annually on March 29th. This act of Congress honored Vietnam Veterans with a day of recognition signed into law by President Donald Trump. March 29th of each year is now designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day by the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. The U.S. flag is to be flown in commemoration of those who served in Vietnam. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA., and Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-IN. 

Forty-four years have passed since the last U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam. Due to the unpopularity of the war, Veterans returning home were often met with disdain and did not receive support or gratitude for their service. 

"Some of them were actually treated quite poorly," Toomey said. "And that was a tragic period in our history driven by people's perceptions of the war. Fortunately, that, I think, is behind us now. And I hope and I believe we've gotten to a place where the American people realize how much we really should be grateful to the men and the women who served this country in Vietnam during that very, very difficult time." 

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 were wounded. An estimate by the Smithsonian suggests that approximately 271,000 Vietnam Veterans may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

On a personal note of interest to me is that March 13th, 2018, has been designated as K9 Corps Day. Having two college friends who were dog handlers in Vietnam, I am very much aware of the risks they confronted when ‘outside the wire!’ The compound that housed our District Headquarters was guarded by ‘Red,’ a dog that seemingly slept all day but was fully alert at night. When Red growled, we all reached for our M16’s. Red was so good that there was a deliberate attempt on his life. He was wounded but we were able to transport him to a nearby airbase that had a veterinarian. After about three hours of surgery and then three weeks of wound care by our medic, he was back on duty.