At its upcoming Tuesday, March 19, 2024, meeting, the Frisco City Council will thank and honor Vietnam Veterans and their families by proclamation. The recognition will be held in Council Chambers at the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd, Frisco, Texas 75034. Please arrive by 6:30pm.
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 was signed into law by 45th U.S. President Donald J. Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This special day joins six other military-centric annual observances, among them Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day.
March 29 was 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 the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. In addition, on and around this same day, Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.
Note that no distinction exists between veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War. All were called to serve, and none could self-determine where they would serve.
The VA estimates that today there are more than 7 million U.S. Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, along with 10 million families of those who served during this timeframe.
Vietnam veterans make up more than 50% of the more than 425 members of American Legion Post 178.