Organized by Vietnam Veterans in Partnership and Hosted by City of Sedona
Sedona AZ (March 15, 2016) – Wednesday, March 30, 2016 marks the start of the 5th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration in the Verde Valley. The city of Sedona is proud to serve as the host community for this year’s event. A schedule of events and times is available on the homepage of the city’s website at www.SedonaAZ.gov.
In honor of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the event includes a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., also known as the “Wall.” It will be in Sedona for public viewing from March 31 to April 3 at Posse Grounds Park, 525 Posse Ground Road.
A motorcycle escort for the Wall’s arrival starts at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30 from the Chevron Station in Camp Verde at I-17 and State Route 260. It will proceed along State Route 260 to State Route 89A and end at Posse Grounds Park. The public is invited to stand along the route to welcome the Wall during its arrival. On Thursday, March 31 at 1 p.m. an opening ceremony takes place at the Wall.
On Friday, April 1, a special 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Sedona at 110 Airport Road. The keynote speaker is Thomas H. Kirk Jr, USAF Col. (Ret.). Colonel Kirk was shot down in 1967 over Hanoi and spent five and one-half years in the “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp as a POW.
The luncheon is free for any Vietnam Era Veteran (1/11/1955 – 5/15/1975) who served honorably on active duty in the US Armed Forces anywhere in the world; space is limited so the luncheon is open only to Veterans, please no guests. To reserve a place at the luncheon, call (928) 282-7571 or (928) 282-3030.
On Saturday, April 2 at 8:30 a.m. there will be a Vietnam Veterans Ride of Honor at the Wall. A motorcycle procession throughout the Verde Valley starts at 11:30 a.m. from Bashas on Finnie Flat Road in Camp Verde and ends at Posse Grounds Park for the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Food and other activities will be provided for free. In addition, all veterans attending the April 2 celebration will receive a commemorative pin.
For more information, contact Eduard Uzumeckis at (928) 202-2193 or uzy@me.com.