Local veterans recently celebrated National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
The day honors the U.S. military members who served during the Vietnam War from 1955-1975. It was first recognized in 2012.
Locally, the ceremony took place March 29 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Lorain County, 625 N. Lake St. in Amherst.
The memorial was dedicated June 23, 2007, and it remembers and honors the 98 fallen veterans from Lorain County.
This year’s ceremony was opened by Vietnam veteran Don Attie, commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20 in Lorain and president of the celebration committee.
Attie is actively involved in honoring local Vietnam veterans.
David K. Root, a Vietnam War veteran and commander of the Elyria Council of Veterans, state legislature chairman for the Department of Ohio Veterans of Foreign Wars, complimented Attie on organizing the event.
“I thought that the program was well done.” said Root, who also spoke during the event. “Don Attie always does a good job.
“The ceremony was short, sweet and to the point.”
Following the opening remarks, the Navy National Defense Cadet Corps from Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst performed the military tradition of Posting the Colors.
The color guard moved the American flag, state flag, service and unit flag to stand for the national anthem, which was sung by Adrianna Hall, a corps member.
Tom Temerario led The Pledge of Allegiance.
Temerario is a Vietnam veteran, a committee member and groundskeeper at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Lorain County.
General Brown then led the Invocation.
Brown is a Vietnam veteran and the Lorain 2024 Veteran of the Year.
Attie asked the veterans to come forward for the open microphone portion of the ceremony so they could share their stories.
“The open microphone portion of the National Vietnam War Veterans Day is an excellent idea as it gives the veterans a chance to recall what it was like during the Vietnam War, and share their stories with the assembled crowd,” he said.
The pinning ceremony followed.
This was the final opportunity to receive the Vietnam Era Pin due to the U.S. Department of Defense ending the 10-year commemoration Nov. 11, he said.
The Nathan Perry Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution was led by Regent Robbie Brown and past Regent Mary Jane Burger.
DAR members presented lapel pins to veterans who served between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975.
This is a lasting memento to all living Vietnam veterans, Attie said.
Bill “Snoopy” Brokop, a Vietnam veteran who was in the 82nd Airborne Division, played “Taps.”
Brown gave the benediction which closed the ceremony.
The 38th annual vigil and r eading of the 98 names will take place at 6 p.m. May 24 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Lorain County.
