Pinning ceremonies held this week in Michigan for Vietnam veterans

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) will host two pinning ceremonies for Vietnam War-era veterans in Jackson and Detroit this Thursday and Friday.

MVAA Director Brian L. Love, a Marine Corps veteran, will recognize Michigan Vietnam veterans in a brief program in celebration of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is March 29.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 officially designated March 29 as National Vietnam War Veteran Day because on March 29, 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam.

Each event this week will include an Honor Guard, the brief remarks by Director Love, a pinning for Vietnam veterans followed by light refreshments. All U.S. veterans who served active duty between Nov. 1, 1955 – May 15, 1975, are welcome to be pinned whether they served in-country, in-theater, or were stationed elsewhere.

“By honoring those services members that served in during Vietnam, we acknowledge their sacrifice to our country and thank for their courageous service,” said Love. “The pinning ceremonies give us a chance to share our appreciation for the hardships they endured during the war and upon their return.”

Vietnam veterans and their families are invited to join MVAA Thursday, March 28, at 2:30 p.m., at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 109 at 235 W. Franklin Street, Jackson, Michigan and Friday, March 29, at 10:30 a.m., at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 9 at 500 Temple Street, 4M, in Detroit, Michigan.

More than 400,000 Michigan service men and women served during the Vietnam War era and more than 2,600 gave their lives in service to their county and their names are among the 58,318 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.