Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder will deliver Governor Bill Haslam’s proclamation to Barry Rice, president of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 240 on Saturday. Governor Haslam has declared March 29, Vietnam Veterans Day.
The 110th Congress established a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” to be acknowledged nationwide at the end of March each year. The United States Armed Forces completed the withdrawal of combat troops from Vietnam on March 30, 1973.
“As a member of Vietnam Veterans of America, I know how important it is to remember our fellow veterans who served in Vietnam and may continue to struggle with the pain of war,” Mr. Grinder said. “The support of fellow Tennesseans can sometimes be the encouragement a veteran needs to overcome injuries and heartache.”
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 240 will host “Thank You Day for All Veterans” at the VFW Post 9851, 73 New Shackle Island Road in Hendersonville on Saturday at 11 a.m. CDT. Representatives with the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs will be available to answer questions about benefits, entitlements and to initiate disability compensation claims.
“Chapter 240 believes this event is an opportunity to recognize and support all veterans in keeping with our mission that ‘never again will one generation of veterans abandon another’,” Mr. Rice said. “It’s a way reaching out to all veterans and saying ‘thank you for your service to our country’”.
Approximately 3,403,000 American troops deployed to Vietnam during the period from 1964 to 1975. More than 58,000 service members were killed in Vietnam and more than 153,000 were wounded in combat.
The Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs is organized to accomplish its mission of serving Tennessee's veterans and their families with dignity and compassion. TDVA is committed to being an advocate for veterans to ensure they receive the care, support, earned entitlements, and recognition they earned in service to our nation. For more information, visit the department’s website at www.tn.gov/veteran, Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs facebook page, or stay up date by following the department on twitter @TNDVA.