The City of Turlock will pay tribute to area Vietnam veterans with a special ceremony March 29 at the historic war cannon in Central Park. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
Vietnam veterans and the community are invited to attend and participate in this second annual commemoration. Vietnam Veterans Day began in 2012 with a Presidential proclamation which sought to have the Nation stand to honor the service and legacy of Vietnam Veterans on the 50th anniversary of the end of the conflict.
In June 2016, the City of Turlock joined more than 10,000 organizations who have become official Vietnam Commemorative Partners. Commemorative Partners are local, state and national organizations, businesses, sports franchises and governmental agencies that have committed to hosting two hometown centered events and activities for at least three years, to thank and honor Vietnam veterans, including unreturned veterans, and their families on behalf of the nation.
"I'm honored to partner with our local veterans’ organizations to pay honor and tribute to these heroes of the Vietnam War," commented Mayor Gary Soiseth. “I hope the Turlock community will join me at the cannon to tie a yellow ribbon on the fence to show our veterans how much our city is grateful for their service to our country.”
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nine million Americans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the period of the Vietnam War; approximately seven million are still living today. To reach these large numbers, the Vietnam Commemoration effort has enlisted the assistance of many thousands of Commemorative Partner organizations, like Turlock, to conduct hometown centered events and activities that thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families in their local communities.
On March 29, 1973, the last American troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam, thus ending the longest war in our country’s history. During this time, thousands of brave Americans served our country in this conflict with courage, honor, and valor. More than 58,000 individuals made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam and more than 300,000 more were wounded in combat.
