March 29 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. It was designated as such in 2017 with the passage of the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act.

Maine Vietnam War veterans are invited to participate in two ceremonies in the state that day. The first will be at the VA/Togus Theater beginning at 10 a.m. A VN era Commemorative Pin will be presented to all Vietnam veterans who attend. Following that ceremony, the State House will recognize all Vietnam veterans at 1 p.m. with a reading of the Official Proclamation from the State of Maine and a reading of the Joint Resolution from the Maine State Legislature. Also, there will be a Certificate and Coin ceremony for attending Vietnam veterans in the Welcome Center.

Vietnam veteran Phil Chapman of Boothbay Harbor hopes all area Vietnam veterans will consider attending one or both of these events.

Chapman is also organizing another Boothbay Harbor Cruise for all veterans. This year’s Cruise is being planned for Sunday, June 10 (with a rain date of June 17). Area lobstermen will provide their boats for the Cruise from Tugboat Marina between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with a cookout planned on the Tugboat Inn’s deck. To sign up, as space is limited, call Chapman at 380-7020 or send an email to him at chapmanmax@msn.com

Vietnam War Facts

Courtesy of historynet.com/Vietnam-war

Dates

1954-1975

Location

South Vietnam
North Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos

Result

North Vietnamese Victory

Troop Strength

South Vietnam: 850,00
United States: 540,000
South Korea: 50,000
Others: 80,000 plus

Casualties

South Vietnam: 200,000 – 400,000 civilians
170,000-220,000 military
Over 1 million wounded

United States:
58,200 dead
300,000 wounded

North Vietnam:
50,000 plus civilian dead
400,000-1 million military dead.
Over 500,000 wounded