Organized by Vietnam Veterans in Partnership and Hosted by City of Sedona
Sedona AZ (January 23, 2016) – Wednesday, March 30, 2016 marks the start of the 5th Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration in the Verde Valley. The City of Sedona is proud to serve as the host community for the 2016 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Event. In honor of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Committee (WHVVD) has expanded this one-day event to include a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., also referred to as the “Wall,” which will be in Sedona for public viewing from March 30 to April 3 at Posse Grounds Park. There are a limited number of these near-size replicas and we are very fortunate to have reserved one for this event. In addition, all veterans attending the April 2 celebration will receive a commemorative pin. Food, entertainment and other activities will be provided at the celebration for free.
As Vietnam Veterans began returning home after their service in the war, a country that failed to differentiate between the war and the troops who served greeted them. In 2011, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution establishing March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day providing Vietnam Veterans with a national day of recognition of their return home. Since 2012, the cities and towns in the Verde Valley have worked cooperatively with numerous organizations and businesses to partner on an Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event. This is our opportunity as a collective community to honor and recognize the contributions of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. As a community we strive to show them the appreciation that they deserve, but did not receive upon returning home from the war.
This year’s event will include a motorcycle escort for the Wall starting at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30 in Camp Verde. It will proceed along State Route 260 to State Route 89A and end at Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Road in Sedona. On Thursday, March 31 at 1 p.m. the opening ceremony at the Wall takes place. On Saturday, April 2 there will be a Ride of Honor at the Wall and a motorcycle procession throughout the Verde Valley. A celebration with food and entertainment begins at 11:30 a.m. at Posse Grounds Park. A schedule of events and times will be posted in the near future on the homepage of the city’s website at www.SedonaAZ.gov.
If you wish to volunteer to help with this event, contact Monte MacConnell at (208) 860-2902 or by email at rmontemac@gmail.com.