Veterans of the Vietnam War will get some overdue recognition in Lehigh Acres this week.

VFW Post 4174  will host a special ceremony and dinner to honor all our Vietnam vets on Saturday, March 26.  The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m.  

Not only will Post members participate in this event, but also taking part will be the Jr. ROTC, Boy Scout Troop 11, The Rifle Team of Lehigh Acres Middle School, Patriot Pen first place winner Blake Bayly, members of the Liaison Combat Trauma Support Group, Juan Tuscano and Terry Daughtery, both Vietnam veterans,  and there will be a presentation of Caps.

The program also will include an honor Salute by Honor Guard Mike Gehlhausen and Taps by David Wilson.

Dinner will follow this auspicious program and will be free to veterans and $7 to their guests.  

There will be music provided by DeNoons Tunes, done by the Auxiliary’s own Kasey Denoon, who is an up and coming entertainer for this area and extremely talented.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon declared March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day, which was exactly one year after the withdrawal of U.S. Combat Forces.  

“The Vietnam War was a terrible time for the returning military personnel as many were faced with ugly protests, scorn and neglect.  They were often warned against wearing their uniforms on the return trip home to the United States,” organizers said.

“Even in the face of extreme controversy and heavy opposition from home, millions of Americans honorably served.  Unlike the return of military personnel after previous wars, there were no ticker ticket parades, welcome home parties or even a thank you from so many citizens.  March 29 has become the day most states and many Posts & Legions celebrate National Vietnam Veterans Day in an effort to give those veterans the thanks they deserve for the service they unselfishly bestowed on this ungrateful nation.”

 In 2017, President Donald Trump set March 29 aside as a commemorative holiday in the United States which recognizes the sacrifices that veterans and their families made during the Vietnam war.  

VFW Post 4174  invites the public to join them in thanking these veterans for their service and continued love of our country.  

The post is at 25 Homestead Road in Lehigh Acres.