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Vietnam vets honored, as 50th anniversary commemorated

Vietnam vet Mike Rosner, center, who served with the Marines from 1962-1965 and Gary Robbins, right, who served with the Army at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the late ’60s watch as the American flag is raised during a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Spokane Valley City Hall in Spokane Valley, Wash. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Pia Hallenberg piah@spokesman.com(509) 459-5427

Spokane Valley and Spokane chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution honored Vietnam veterans at a commemorative flag-raising at Spokane Valley City Hall on Tuesday morning.

March 29 was designated as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war.

Spokane Valley City Councilman Ed Pace read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Rod Higgins.

Pace said 9 million Americans served in the Vietnam War, and that March 29 honors every one of them no matter how or in which military branch they served, as well as civilians.

“March 29 is the day the last American combat troops left Vietnam in 1973,” Pace said, adding that some military personnel returned to Vietnam in civil positions and as volunteers.

“On a historical note, the war wasn’t over until May 15, 1975,” Pace said.

More than 9,000 organizations joined in the Tuesday commemoration, honoring the estimated 7 million Vietnam veterans who are still alive.

Pace, who served seven years of active duty in Vietnam, received a special commemoration document and a letter from President Barack Obama.

Councilman Bill Gothmann was honored for the 10 years he served in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, and Councilman Dean Grafos was honored for the six years he served in the Army Reserve during the war.

Pat Leu, regent of the May Hutton National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, said this was the first celebration of Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day and that she hoped more veterans would come for the commemoration next year.

“At least we’ve begun to give them the recognition they deserve,” Leu said.