Friday, March 29, 2019 is hereby proclaimed as Vietnam Veterans Day in the State of Minnesota.
Governor Pawlenty signed a bill into law in 2008 declaring March 29 “Vietnam Veterans Day” in Minnesota. The law states “1,072 of the people whose names are listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., were from the state of Minnesota. Many other Minnesotans are surviving Vietnam veterans. This section is enacted as a way for Minnesotans to show their pride and gratitude, recall the veterans’ accomplishments, and thank Minnesota’s Vietnam veterans for their unselfish devotion to duty.“
The 2019 proclamation from Governor Walz reads as follows:
WHEREAS: In recognition of the 44th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, Minnesotans honor and give thanks to a generation of Americans, who saw our country through a challenging period; and
WHEREAS: When called upon to serve their country during the Vietnam War, Minnesota service men and women put their lives on hold; and
WHEREAS: These individuals served bravely, with honor and distinction, and 1,077 heroically laid down their lives to preserve the freedoms, that we as Americans, hold dear; and
WHEREAS: Minnesotans are grateful for the service, accomplishments, and sacrifices of Vietnam War veterans; and
WHEREAS: It is never too late to pay tribute to and honor those who answered our nation’s call in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS: It is appropriate and just to recognize the achievements of our Minnesota Vietnam veterans, and thank them for the sacrifices and service they provided for our country.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM WALZ, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Friday, March 29, 2019, as: MINNESOTA VIETNAM VETERANS DAY in the State of Minnesota.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day
The National day is called National Vietnam War Veterans Day and is also March 29th.
The Department of Defense will conduct a wreath laying ceremony with the Department of Veterans Affairs at The Vietnam War Memorial March 29, 2019. On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed into law The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, establishing The National Vietnam War Veterans Day that will, henceforth, be celebrated each year on March 29.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day joins six other national military observances: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, Navy Day and Veterans Day. March 29 was the day Military Assistance Command Vietnam was deactivated on March 29, 1973. The date honors all United States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location.
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that today there are 6.4 million living Vietnam veterans and 9 million families of those who served during this time frame. We make no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period. All were called to serve and none could self-determine where they would serve.