National Vietnam War Veterans Day

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, more than 230,000 Virginians served the nation in Vietnam, more than 1,300 sacrificed their lives, and 46 Virginians are still listed as missing in action; and

WHEREAS, of the 246 service members who were awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award, eight were Virginians, including seven who died in action; and

WHEREAS, Virginians served in Vietnam from the beginning to the end, with a Virginian being one of the first casualties of the war in 1961 and one of the last in 1975; and

WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was an extremely divisive issue among the people of the United States, and the crossfire of debate about the country's involvement in the war deprived many members of the Armed Forces of public support and appreciation of their patriotic service; and

WHEREAS, the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who returned from Vietnam were not accorded the recognition and praise that was so routinely awarded returning servicemen and women in earlier wars; and

WHEREAS, it is especially important that the extraordinary contributions of America's Vietnam War veterans and the sacrifice of their families be remembered and recognized; and

WHEREAS, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 officially designated March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day annually;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 29, 2023, as NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations