National Vietnam War Veterans Day 2020

Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

It was recognized in 2012 when the the President created a 13 year remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the war, those who served and those who paid so dearly.

In 2017 it was made a holiday and designated as one of the several days on which the U.S. flag should be displayed. It joins over 1500 "Days" recognized in the U.S.

The 29th of March is generally recognized as the day the last combat troops left Vietnam, although there is some disagreement about that.

So, if you choose to recognize, I hesitate to say celebrate, though others do, Vietnam War Veterans Day there are several suggestions on "national daycalendar" web page.

• Thank a Vietnam Veteran.
• Buy them a drink or lunch.
• Visit a local memorial. Volunteer to help organize events. 
• Support a veteran’s organization in your community. Volunteer and offer your skills.
• Watch a Vietnam War documentary such as The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick or Last Days in Vietnam directed by Rory Kennedy or Vietnam Nurses by Timeline.
• Read about the Vietnam War in books like Vietnam – A History by Stanley Karnow or They Marched into Sunlight: War and Peace, Vietnam and America, October 1967 by David Maraniss or The Quiet American by Graham Green and Robert Stone.

Send them a shout out using #VietnamWarVeteransDay on social media.

These ideas were taken from the nationaldaycalendar
.com web site.

I should also point out, I guess, as several sites do, to not confuse this day with Veterans Day which honors all veterans.

I had planned to write about Virginia today, but this seems more appropriate, so look for Virginia next time.

So, as mentioned above, join me on the 3rd of April for that post from Virginia.

To see more memorials from around the country, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.