March 29 marks Vietnam Veterans Day. In Minnesota, we are proud to recognize more than 110,000 Vietnam-era Veterans, the largest group of Veterans among our total of 312,000. Vietnam-era Veterans served between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975.

While the Minnesota Legislature designated this special day of recognition in 2008, the National Vietnam War Veterans Day was enacted in 2017. Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 40 years ago.

March 29 is a date of significance, as on March 29, 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil.

I encourage you to visit the Minnesota Vietnam Memorial which is located near the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Service Building on the State Capitol grounds. Designed in 1992, the memorial includes a red granite map of Indochina that forms the entrance. A winding concrete pathway literally brings you home from Southeast Asia. A directory will help you find a particular name. The main plaza is surfaced with 68,000 granite squares, each representing a Minnesotan who served in the country or territorial waters of Vietnam. 1,120 of the squares are dark green, these mark the hometowns of the Minnesotans who did not return. All 1,120 names of Minnesota's KIAs and MIAs are engraved in this dark green granite wall. A limestone representation of a house furthers the theme of homecoming. Minnesota dolomitic limestone walls echo the feel of our limestone riverbanks. Pools, streams, and native Minnesota trees and shrubs add to the sense of coming home.

To learn more about the Vietnam experience, I recommend watching a Twin Cities PBS documentary called Minnesota Remembers Vietnam. This collaboration among the state’s six public television stations features the Story Wall, original documentaries, and a series of public screenings and commemorative events that seek to more fully remember, honor and understand the experience of 50 years ago.

MDVA will be recognizing Vietnam Veterans Day this year by sharing a State of Minnesota Proclamation via our social media channels, newsletters and website. The Minnesota Veterans Homes also have recognitions planned.

• The Fergus Falls Veterans Home, we will be providing Residents who are Vietnam Veterans with a special lunch. Afterwards, there will be an informal program that includes a tribute to and introduction of all Vietnam Veterans in attendance, special music, a memorial wreath presentation, and the final role call for those who have passed this last year. All Vietnam Veterans will receive a Vietnam Vet T-Shirt, plus there will be door prizes! And to end the event, Residents will be invited to watch the movie Good Morning, Vietnam.
• The Luverne Veterans Home has 19 Vietnam-era Veterans residing there. The Home will be hosting two separate programs (to ensure social distancing of Residents from the two sections in the Home) and will be providing each Vietnam-era Veteran with a special t-shirt to wear that day to identify them and a certificate of appreciation. A catered lunch will feature BBQ ribs, a favorite meal among the Residents. A slide show of Vietnam-era Veterans will scroll on the monitors in the common areas throughout the day. The Home Chaplain is also interviewing the Veterans about life at that time.
• The Hastings Veterans Home/Domiciliary Program will be honored to host David Bilt, Purple Heart Vietnam Veteran, who will speak to Veterans and staff. AMVETs Post 10 will present the colors. Jason Taylor, Hastings Resident Veteran, will read original poem. The program will also include virtual music and refreshments.

MDVA is honored to recognize Minnesota’s Vietnam Veterans.

As always, if you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!