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City of Springfield Commemorates Memorial Day and the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the Springfield Veterans Services Department hosted the annual Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony on the steps of City Hall on Friday, May 27 at 12:00 noon. Heath and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris presented a proclamation from President Barack Obama commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Mayor Sarno said, “Though for many, Memorial Day is celebrated for picnics and retail sales, we should always remember and never forget the ultimate sacrifice our Veterans put forth so we can lead the lives we lead. Also, though Vietnam Veterans did not receive the proper respect when they returned home, I’m so appreciative now that they are so respected for their brave service to our country. They have led the way to make sure all our Vets continue to be properly honored.”

This event is part of a proclamation President Barack Obama issued on May 25, 2012 that called for a 13-year show of respect, from May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025 as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.  The 13-year program is to honor and give thanks to those who served during this difficult time in our nation’s history.

As we observe the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, we reflect with solemn reverence upon the valor of a generation that served with honor. We pay tribute to the more than 3 million servicemen and women who left their families to serve bravely, a world away from everything they knew and everyone they loved. From Ia Drang to Khe Sanh, from Hue to Saigon and countless villages in between, they pushed through jungles and rice paddies, heat and monsoon, fighting heroically to protect the ideals we hold dear as Americans. Through more than a decade of combat over air, land, and sea, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of our Armed Forces. Federal, State, and local official are called upon to honor our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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Page last updated:  Tuesday, March 1, 2022 01:32 pm