July 10, 2018

Vietnam Veterans, Gold Star Families to be recognized at Ceremony Featuring The Wall That Heals

AUGUSTA, Maine On Friday, July 20 the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services (MBVS) will host a recognition ceremony for Vietnam Veterans and Gold Star Families. The ceremony will take place on the Gardiner Common from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and be held in conjunction with a local visit from The Wall that Heals.

The Wall That Heals is a mobile education center and replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It will be on display on the Gardiner Common from July 19 through July 22. Open to the public both day and night throughout the weekend, The Wall will be a place for both reflection and remembrance for all who visit.

MBVS Director Adria Horn emphasized the importance of the recognition ceremony and The Walls visit to providing closure to Vietnam Veterans and their families:

During my tenure as director of the Bureau, we have held dozens of ceremonies to recognize a generation of veterans who have not received the necessary and proper Thank You for their service. Those who have attended our recognition ceremonies tell us often about the significant impact it has had on their lives. They have made an impact on ours as well.

Vietnam Veterans who wish to attend the ceremony should register online and contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services to ensure the Bureau has their DD214, for certification purposes. Veterans who register will be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation, a Vietnam Veteran Coin, and a 50th Anniversary Lapel Pin.

Gold Star Family members are also encouraged to attend and should register online. Families who register will be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation, a Lapel Pin, and Gold Star Medal honoring both the family and their Vietnam Veteran.

We understand how hard it is for veterans to put themselves out there five decades after coming home, but we assure you: this is an opportunity not to be missed. You will certainly have no regrets if you join us, said Director Horn.

To register for the recognition ceremony and for a schedule of events during The Wall That Heals stay, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vietnam-veteran-gold-star-family-recognition-ceremony-tickets-47477854541.

For more information, please contact Melissa Willette, Director of Communications, Maine Bureau of Veterans Services at Melissa.Willette@maine.gov or 207-430-6004.

To learn more about available resources for veterans and their families, please contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services at 207-430-6035 or visit their website www.maine.gov/veterans.