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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY
Is there a national day that honors Vietnam Veterans?
Yes; March 29 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, uniting Americans to
thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.
On March 28, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed into law The Vietnam War
Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, designating every March 29 as National
Vietnam War Veterans Day.
National Vietnam War Veterans Day joins six other military-centric national
observances codified in Title 4 of the United States Code §6 (i.e., Armed Forces
Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, National Korean War Veterans Armistice
Day, Navy Day, Veterans Day).
March 29 is a fitting choice for a day honoring Vietnam veterans. It was chosen
to be observed in perpetuity as March 29, 1973 was the day United States Military
Assistance Command, Vietnam was disestablished and also the day the last U.S.
combat troops departed Vietnam. In addition, that same day Hanoi released the
last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.
VIETNAM VETERANS
What is the purpose of this Commemoration?
Simply put, to thank and honor our Nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families
for their service and sacrifice.
Congress outlined a total of five objectives for The United States of America
Vietnam War Commemoration, with the primary objective being to thank and
honor Vietnam veterans and their families on behalf of the Nation for their service
and sacrifice, with distinct recognition of former prisoners of war and families of
those still listed as missing in action.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/305/text
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/305/text
http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/[email protected]/chapter1&edition=prelim
https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/Commemoration_Objectives/
https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/
https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/
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The four remaining objectives highlight the service of our Armed Forces and
support organizations during the war; pay tribute to wartime contributions at home
by American citizens; highlight technology, science and medical advances made
during the war; and recognize contributions by our Allies.
For this Commemoration, what defines a Vietnam veteran?
The Commemoration 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.
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, none could self-determine where they were stationed, and all were seen in
the same way by a country that could not separate the war from the warrior, as we
do today.
How many Americans living today served during the Vietnam War period?
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that currently there are more than
6 million Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, along with 9 million
families of those who served during this time frame.
Does the Commemoration honor those who fought the war and, after
returning, opposed U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia?
The Commemoration thanks and honors all our Vietnam veterans and their
families, regardless of their political views.
Do you have any interviews from Vietnam veterans?
Yes; the Commemoration is collecting oral history interviews on video of Vietnam
veterans and their families. As we interview these Vietnam veterans, we are able
to leverage their vast network of fellow veterans to interview and capture a wide
breadth of experiences – all ranks, Services, specialties and viewpoints – that
reflect personal thoughts and opinions about all aspects of the war.
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Eventually, this collection of interviews will be shared, unedited, with the Library
of Congress Veterans History Project. In addition, we anticipate these interviews
being available on the Commemoration website in the future. As of January 2020,
more than 700 interviews have been completed.
VIETNAM VETERAN LAPEL PINS
What is a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin?
The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin is “a lasting memento of the Nation’s thanks.”
These lapel pins were created to recognize, thank and honor United States military
veterans who served on active duty during the Vietnam War period.
Who is eligible to receive a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin?
Living United States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
from November 1, 1955 to and May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to
receive one lapel pin.
How does a Vietnam veteran get a lapel pin?
The Commemoration is providing Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins exclusively to
Commemorative Partners for dignified presentations to U.S. military veterans who
served during the Vietnam War period.
These lapel pins are meant to be presented publicly and individually to Vietnam
veterans only. However, if a Vietnam veteran is unable to attend a public
ceremony, Commemorative Partners are authorized and encouraged to present
lapel pins to these veterans in a private setting.
Vietnam veterans and their families can locate upcoming commemorative events
by visiting http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/events/. Zoom in to locate your state
and city or town. Blue pins represent future events. When a pin is clicked, details
about the event are revealed, including contact information. If there are no blue
pins in your area, check back frequently, as new events are added every week.
Veterans who need help finding a commemorative event can email
[email protected]
https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/vietnam_veteran_lapel_pin/
[email protected]
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How do Commemorative Partners acquire these lapel pins to present to
Vietnam veterans?
Commemorative Partners can request lapel pins and other materials by submitting
the DD 2956 Form found under the Event Support tab in the Partner Portal. For
best results, use the online form. Note: Portal access requires the User ID and
Password emailed to the Commemorative Partner Chairperson upon acceptance in
the program.
What do the images on this lapel pin symbolize?
The images on this lapel pin are significant; great care and thoughtfulness were
used in their selection. The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin Fact Sheet explains each
element incorporated in this lapel pin. We encourage all our Commemorative
Partners to provide a fact sheet with each lapel pin they present.
Are these lapel pins free?
Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins, and all other Commemoration materials, are provided
to our Commemorative Partners at no cost, and are intended to be freely presented
at commemorative events. No Vietnam veteran should ever pay to receive this
“lasting memento of the Nation’s thanks.”
When were Vietnam veteran lapel pins first released?
The Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin was initially introduced in small numbers in late
2014 with the first lapel pin presented to then Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
Full production of lapel pins began in 2015 and they have been available to our
Commemorative Partners for presentation to eligible Vietnam veterans ever since.
Can service members of our Allies receive a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin?
While we recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our Allies in
Vietnam, Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins are specifically for U.S. veterans.
https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/assets/1/7/Vietnam_Veteran_Lapel_Pin_Fact_Sheet.pdf
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Can civilians working and/or injured in Vietnam during the Vietnam War
period receive a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin?
While we highlight the contributions of Federal agencies and non-governmental
organizations that served with or supported our Armed Forces, Vietnam Veteran
Lapel Pins are specifically for uniformed U.S. veterans.
Are there other types of lapel pins available for presentation?
Yes; the Commemoration created a Certificate of Honor Program to recognize four
distinct subcategories of Vietnam veterans and their families –
1) Former, living American military POWs from the Vietnam War as listed by the
Department of Defense;
2) Immediate family members of American military personnel listed as missing
and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War by the Department of Defense;
3) Immediate family members of a veteran who is listed on the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and
4) Surviving spouses (at the time of death) of veterans who served in the U.S.
Armed Forces at any time during the period from November, 1955 to May
