MEXICO — Rep. Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, announced at Day ceremonies Monday that Maine finally has a Vietnam War Remembrance Day.

Gov. Paul LePage signed LD 20 establishing Vietnam War Remembrance Day to be observed annually on March 30. The date marks the anniversary when the last U.S. troops were pulled out of Vietnam.

LePage urged that the day observed “in recognition of the service and sacrifice of those veterans of the U.S. Armed Services who served during the Vietnam War.”

“This law establishing the Vietnam War Remembrance Day is long overdue,” Briggs said in her Memorial Day address with more than a handful of Vietnam veterans in the audience.

Briggs, a fervent supporter of veterans rights, initially sponsored the bill in late January and led the movement, along with Sen. John Patrick, D-Rumford, to eventually secure its passage. The House vote was 143-3; the Senate vote 33-0.

“This law says thank you to our Vietnam veterans and job well done,” Briggs said.

“There has been an enormous amount of pain involving these veterans and the war,” she said. “It is time to start the healing process by saying we’re sorry, thank you and welcome home.

“I wish to credit Mexico resident and Vietnam War veteran Dwight Murphy,  my brother, my brother-in-law and many friends who served in Vietnam,” Briggs said, “as my inspiration to sponsor LD 20.

“I have here an American flag which has flown over the Maine State House on May 16,” Briggs said, “which I would like to present to Dwight Murphy for his service if he is in the audience.”

Murphy was not present.

“Sheryl did an excellent job in getting this bill passed,” said Murphy, who was reached later at his Mexico home. “It is about time, nearly 40 years later, that we get this recognition, rather than to continue to sweep it under the rug.”

Murphy served three years in Vietnam with the U.S.  Army’s 101st Airborne and then seven years in the Army Reserves.

“I did some research on Vietnam War observances,” Murphy said, “and I heard from a buddy of mine that there was a state out west that had a Vietnam War Veterans recognition day and then I told Sheryl about it.”

Murphy said he and a number of other Vietnam veterans, including Don Simoneau of Livermore, a Vietnam War rights activist, were on hand for the governor’s signing of LD 20 on May 18.

“This was too important to let get away,” Murphy said.

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