Vietnam vets, Gold Star families to be recognized

AUGUSTA – The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services will host a recognition ceremony for Vietnam veterans and Gold Star families from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 20, on the Gardiner Common.

The Wall that Heals, a mobile education center and replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be displayed on the common July 19-22. Open to the public day and night throughout the weekend, The Wall will be a place for both reflection and remembrance.

“During my tenure as director of the bureau, we have held dozens of ceremonies to recognize a generation of veterans who have not received the necessary and proper ‘Thank You’ for their service,” Veterans’ Services Director Adria Horn said. “Those who have attended our recognition ceremonies tell us often about the significant impact it has had on their lives. They have made an impact on ours as well.”

Vietnam veterans who wish to attend the ceremony should register online and contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services to ensure the bureau has their DD214, for certification purposes. Veterans who register will be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation, a Vietnam Veteran Coin, and a 50th Anniversary Lapel Pin.

Gold Star family members should register online. Families who register will be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation, a lapel pin, and Gold Star Medal honoring both the family and their Vietnam veteran.

To register for the recognition ceremony and for a schedule of events during The Wall That Heals’ display, visit https://tinyurl.com/y75bgukq.

For more information, contact Melissa Willette, director of communications, Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services at melissa.willette@maine.gov or 207-430-6004.

To learn more about available resources for veterans and their families, contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services at 207-430-6035 or visit its website www.maine.gov/veterans.