Vietnam War Commemoration Celebration
The War Memorial is a proud Vietnam War Commemorative Partner.
About The 50th Anniversary Commemoration Period
The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 110-181 § 598) empowers the Secretary of Defense to conduct a program on behalf of the Nation that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. This law also authorizes the Secretary to coordinate, support and facilitate federal, state and local government commemorative programs and activities. To that end, "The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration" was formed.
By presidential proclamations on May 25, 2012, November 20, 2017 and March 28, 2022, the Commemoration extends from Memorial Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025. Congress articulated five objectives for this Commemoration:
1. To thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war, or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.
2. To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
3. To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War.
4. To highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.
5. To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, of the Americans who served on active duty in the
U.S. Armed Forces during the period of the Vietnam War, approximately 7 million are living in America and abroad today. To reach these large numbers, the Commemoration has enlisted the assistance of many thousands of Commemorative Partner organizations at the local, state and national levels to conduct hometown-centric events and activities that thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families in their local communities.
source: www.vietnamwar50th.com
Our 50th Anniversary Commemoration Program Series
In 2025, The War Memorial will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end with a yearlong program series entitled: Conflict and Healing: Exploring the Legacy of the Vietnam War. Throughout the year, we will host many special events to educate the regional community on this controversial conflict and its difficult legacy with a series of diverse events, including: two military exhibits and a historical documentary film with accompanying lectures, two author speaking engagements with book and panel discussions, art exhibits and lectures, and health related seminars on mental health and PTSD, and culminating with a speech by Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient from Michigan.
These new events will be pillared by our three legacy celebrations of March’s Vietnam Veteran Luncheon, May’s Memorial Day Ceremony, and November’s Veterans Day Breakfast, and supplemented by bimonthly informal events for the Veteran community with our Vet-to-Vet coffee hour gatherings. Altogether, this year-long program of events will support our veterans and enrich the community, creating a positive two-fold effect: bolstering Vietnam veterans and strengthening the connection between them and the community they defended.
Events in This Program
Support our Impact
The War Memorial is privileged to offer legacy-rich patriotic programming - annually pillared by our Memorial Week Celebrations, 9/11 Service of Remembrance, and Veterans Day Breakfast. We also provide networking events, informational seminars, historical lectures, and patriotic activities to enrich the lives of our veterans, active military personnel, their families and the greater community. These events, and other innovative collaborations with our community partners, provide opportunities for our regional community to gather, reflect and to express a patriotic spirit.
Join us in supporting these programmatic offerings! Through your support The War Memorial can create more opportunities to bring families, friends, and veterans to enjoy a myriad of arts, culture, education and enrichment, in a spirit of fraternity and togetherness which is the backbone of any healthy community.