U.S. Senate Chamber

Sedona AZ (March 21, 2012) – In 2011, the United States Senate proclaimed March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. This date marks the anniversary of the day that U.S. combat and combat support units withdrew completely from the country of Vietnam. The City Councils in the Verde Valley will join the U.S. Senate by issuing separate proclamations this year.

Recognizing Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day is a gesture of acceptance, gratitude and honor for those veterans and their families who gave and sacrificed when asked and ordered during the Vietnam War. During the course of the long and drawn out conflict, many Vietnam veterans returned home to an increasingly divided public that held misgivings about the government’s handling of the war. Verde Valley communities will have the opportunity to celebrate and honor its Vietnam veterans on March 30.

Vietnam veterans and families are invited to receive the welcome, love and healing that the Sedona and Verde Valley communities offer. It is hoped that fellow veterans from other wars, organizations both public and private, schools, as well as parents, spouses, children and friends of Vietnam veterans, take time during this day to join the celebration. Over a dozen Vietnam veterans, family and community members organized this Verde Valley March 30 event as the first of annual traditions honoring Vietnam veterans and families.

The event will include a Motorcycle Escort starting at 10:30 AM in Clarkdale, Arizona. It will go through Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Village of Oak Creek and end at Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Road, west Sedona. Starting at 1:00 p.m., a full Color Guard will open the festivities. The event will include entertainment, food, information on Veteran’s benefits, and conclude with a 4:30 PM movie at the Mary D. Fisher Community Theater, SR 89A, Sedona.

Many Vietnam veterans played important roles in America since the end of the Vietnam War such as Al Gore, Fred Smith (founder and president of Federal Express), Colin Powell, John McCain, Craig Venter (famed for being the first to map the human genome) and many others.

The SedonaEye.com joins the community to thank each and everyone of our Vietnam veterans for their service to our great country. A very special thank you goes to SedonaEye.com reporter, Gary Chamberlain, who served in Vietnam and was awarded a medal for valor. Gary is a co-founder of Folksville USA, Trash for Cash and BagReadyJobs, citizen activist organizations which promote nationwide anti litter clean up events and community service education projects.

Welcome home!

For the best in Sedona news and views, read SedonaEye.com daily! Reach 4000+ subscribers with your ads and articles! We are growing daily!