The Missouri General Assembly this year will continue a proud tradition of recognizing and honoring the service of Vietnam veterans. In 2012 the state legislature passed legislation to establish a Vietnam Veterans Day, which takes place on March 30, and has held ceremonies each year in the State Capitol to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of the heroes who served during the Vietnam War. This year the event will take place on April 25 in conjunction with the 13-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War that began in 2012.

State Rep. Allen Andrews now leads the efforts to organize the event that pays tribute to the individuals who valiantly served in the Vietnam War. During the 2018 legislative session, Andrews worked with State Rep. Pat Conway to plan the events in the House Chamber to recognize the veterans for their immense contributions to the state. Conway and former Rep. Paul Fitzwater played a pivotal role in passing legislation in 2012 to create the day of observance, and Conway led the efforts of the House to honor the state’s veterans. As Conway’s term expired in 2018, he joined House Leadership in asking Andrews to take over the responsibility of organizing the event in future years.

This year’s event will once again serve to remember and recognize the courage and unwavering patriotism of those valiant men and women of the armed forces of the United States who served during the Vietnam War. Members of the General Assembly are asking any Vietnam-era veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, to make plans to attend the special ceremony in Jefferson City.

The ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 at 9:00 a.m. in the First Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol Building. Participants are also invited to attend a reception in the Third Floor Rotunda at 8:00 a.m. Veterans interested in attending the ceremony have until April 10 to RSVP.

Veterans or their family members can RSVP to: https://eventbrite.com/e/vietnam-war-50th-anniversary-commemoration-ceremony-registration-58329260388 or call the Missouri Veterans Commission at: 573-522-4228 or 573-522-1421.

This year’s ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans takes on extra significance as it is part of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. The commemoration is an ongoing, 13-year event. It was launched on Memorial Day 2012 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The event extends through Veterans Day 2025.