Pennsylvania DMVA Recognizes Vietnam Veterans at Commemorative Event

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Brig. Gen. Jerry Beck Jr., DMVA's deputy adjutant general for veterans affairs, honored and thanked Pennsylvania Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice as part of an event commemorating the end of the Vietnam War.  

"Forty-three years ago today, the last of our brave and faithful troops left Vietnam, yet when they returned home they were caught in the crossfire of public debate about the United States' involvement in the Vietnam Conflict," said Beck. "To show Pennsylvania's commitment, along with more than 9,000 organizations across the country, DMVA has joined with the Department of Defense as a 50^th Anniversary Commemorative Partner to help citizens honor our Vietnam Veterans on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

Authorized by Congress, established under the secretary of defense, and launched by the president in May 2012, the Vietnam War Commemoration recognizes all men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975 regardless of duty location. By presidential proclamation issued on May 25, 2012, the Commemoration extends from its inaugural event on Memorial Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025. Commemorative Partners have committed to publicly thank and honor Vietnam Veterans and their families on behalf of the nation and have pledged to host a minimum of two events per year. 

"We have also partnered with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) to locate a photo for every Pennsylvania service member who sacrificed their life in the Vietnam War," Beck added. "To date, of the 3,148 service members from Pennsylvania whose names are on The Wall, 431 photos are still needed for the virtual Wall of Faces. We need everyone's help in locating and submitting photos in order to keep the legacies of these service members alive for future generations."

The VVMF is trying to collect photos for each of the 58,307 men and women whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. for its virtual Wall of Faces. Since the photo campaign was launched in October 2009, VVMF has located photos for more than 45,000 of the names inscribed on the memorial.

To learn more about the Wall of Faces, visit www.dmva.pa.gov and click on Wall of Faces or follow DMVA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva.   

Media contact: Joan Nissley – 717.861.8720

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Related Links

http://www.dmva.state.pa.us