Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall) in Washington DC.
Sedona AZ (January 20, 2016) – Wednesday, March 30, 2016, marks the start of the fifth Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration in the Verde Valley. The City of Sedona will proudly serve as the host community for this event.
In honor of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Committee (WHVVD) has expanded this one day event to include a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., often referred to as the “Wall,” which will be in Sedona for public viewing from March 30 to April 3 at Posse Grounds Park. There are a limited number of these near size replicas of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the WHVVD considers itself fortunate to have reserved one for this event. In addition, all veterans attending the April 2, 2016 celebration will receive a commemorative pin. Food, entertainment and other activities will be provided at the event for free.
Vietnam Memorial Brothers in Arms statue, Washington DC
As Vietnam veterans began returning home after their service in the war, a country that failed to differentiate between the war and the troops who served greeted them. In 2011, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution establishing March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day providing Vietnam veterans with a national day of recognition of their return home. Since 2012, the cities and towns in the Verde Valley have worked cooperatively with numerous organizations and businesses to partner on an annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event. This is our opportunity as a collective community to honor and recognize the contributions of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. As a community we strive to show our veterans the appreciation that they deserve but did not receive upon returning home from the war.
This year’s event will include a motorcycle escort for the Wall exhibit, beginning at 3:15 p.m. on March 30 in Camp Verde, and proceeding along State Route 260 to State Route 89A and ending at Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Road, Sedona. On March 31 at 1:00 p.m. the opening ceremony at the Wall will take place. On Saturday, April 2, there will be a Ride of Honor at the Wall and a motorcycle procession throughout the Verde Valley. A celebration with food and entertainment begins at 11:30 a.m. at Posse Grounds Park. A schedule of events and times will be posted soon on the homepage of the city’s website at www.SedonaAZ.gov.
If you have a loved one, friend or acquaintance who served in the Vietnam war and would like to publicly acknowledge their service and or ultimate sacrifice, submit a comment below this article.
Contact Monte MacConnell at 208-860-2902 or by email at rmontemac@gmail.com to volunteer your help with this event.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
Sonny, we love you and appreciate your service. You’re an amazing husband, dad, brother, uncle, brother in law, son in law, grandfather. Your parents were very proud of you always. Thank you with love from your entire family scattered across these beautiful United States of America.
stop complaining & finding fault & pick up your trash !
Thank you, sir, for your service during World War II. May you live long and prosper in Prescott AZ. I suggest other fans will find your book interesting and it can be found on Amazon. I will treasure my autographed copy.
A California admirer.
Dear Senator McCain,
I have visited the Hanoi Hilton where you were held prisoner along with many others and have the greatest respect for combat soldiers of all eras and especially those held as prisoners of war!
A person has to be pretty hardened to hear the story about how prisoners of war are treated and not shed a tear.
When I visited Vietnam and listened to the Vietnamese person speaking about how the French treated and tortured the Vietnamese that opposed the French occupation of Vietnam you have to ask the question “How could any human being be so cruel and how were our American prisoners of war been treated by the Vietnamese?”
Senator McCain, we have contacted your office many times about the filthy condition of the three Arizona veterans highways and have received no response. I hope you could take some interest in seeing that these memorial highways get the attention they deserve.
Because I don’t choose to make this a political plea, I have ask for the same effort from Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick who has taken the time to recognize the “America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs” effort that was started in Arizona.
It is my hope that those that support either of the candidates send this posting to them for the benefit of all of America’s veterans. Congressman Paul Gosar has also recognized this effort and even participates in ADOT Adopt-A-Highway cleanups. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s office has also recognized this effort, will you join them in this effort?
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Vietnam veteran 1967
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
Along with all of those mentioned, I forgot to mention that our efforts were recognized by the Arizona House of Representatives, Andy Tobin – Speaker of the House of Representatives and Nationally by the Veterans of Foreign War and the American Legion.
There were many Vietnam veterans and one WWII veteran that made this all happen.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Vietnam veteran 1967
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com
(928) 202-1186
J.W. Dyer, CDR, USNR (Ret) “Chaplain Jim,” Appalachian-American writes: An idea for all our retired military vets… December 9 – SCORE ONE FOR VETERANS! Semper Fi.
Today Alex went to the DMV to renew his license. When he was told to go have his picture taken he noticed that there were some men having their picture taken, these men were wearing turbans on their heads. Alex was asked to take his hat off to have his picture taken. He said “no”, and “no” again when asked the second time. When he was asked why he would not remove his hat he said, “those men didn’t remove their head wear, I shouldn’t either”. It was explained that this was their attire and their religion. Alex told the DMV person that what he had on was his attire and when he entered the Marines he declared an oath to the USA, and one nation under God, so that his oath was under God so just as good as his religion. Well, the DMV people didn’t know what to do, they spoke to supervisors and called Sacramento. Alex was told, after an hour, that he could wear his hat for the picture and if there were any problems they would let him know and he could appeal their decision. He told them if there was a problem he WILL appeal it. Alex feels no one has more right to display their head gear then a Veteran or active service person. When he left several employees at the DMV clapped quietly for him. He has spoken to few other Veterans and they plan to do the same. God Bless America and the U.S. Marine Corps. It’s about damn time we as Americans start standing up for our rights.
Alex,
What a great effort on your part!
There are too many people that don’t challenge the system and if they would do as you have done, they would find their efforts rewarded.
In challenging the system, it is worthwhile to ask for an explanation to your request or concern in writing so that you may send a copy to your elected representatives and always ask for the person’s name to who you spoke to be on that document.
Bureaucrats don’t like paper trails that are made public when it makes them look bad. There are many well meaning bureaucrats that will applaud your efforts as well, for they have to follow the orders that some moron has ask them to do.
Who better to lead efforts like this other than our veterans.
Gary Chamberlain
“America the Beautiful & BagReadyJobs”
Empowering our nation’s youth
Vietnam veteran 1967
FolksvilleUSA@gmail.com