Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day
Feb 24, 2012 12:00 am
RUMFORD -- River Valley veterans who served during the Vietnam War are invited to attend a special recognition ceremony on Friday, March 30.
All veterans from all service are welcome to attend and be recognized on this day.
This will be the first Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day in Maine after Rep. Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, worked to pass legislation last year designating the day.
The ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Post 24, 184 Congress St. in Rumford. Maine officials will be presenting Certificates of Appreciation to all veterans in attendance for their military service.
“I would like to see all veterans attend this event so that we can honor and thank them,” said Briggs. “Please encourage the veterans you know to contact us so they will be included.”
The ceremony will include presentation of State of Maine Silver Star Honorable Service Medals to those that were wounded in combat and awarded a Purple Heart. The families of those that made the ultimate sacrifice during WW II, Korea and Vietnam will receive the State of Maine Gold Star Honorable Service Medal. State of Maine Bronze Star Honorable Service Medals will be presented to the families of those who died in the line of duty but not in a combat zone.
Veterans and Gold and Bronze Star families attending should contact Maine Veterans Services to ensure they are placed on the list to receive recognition.
Sen. John Patrick, D-Oxford, and Rep. Matt Peterson, D-Rumford, will join Rep. Briggs at the ceremony.
Officials are looking for families of the following Vietnam veterans killed in action. If you have information about the family of the veterans listed, please contact Maine Veterans Services.
SP4 Theodore Bernard; SP4 Edward Boivin; SSG Roger Gallant; SGT George Reynolds; CPL Peter Dube; 2LT Thomas Ferguson; PFC David Thibodeau; PFC Paul Barker; SSG Robert Foster, Jr.; SP4 William Harrington; CAPT Martin Niskanen; SSG Hollis Buck; CP Chester Hopkins; PVT Leon Poland.
All veterans wishing to participate in this ceremony must contact Maine Veterans Services at 430-6034 or by email at MaineBVS@maine.gov to ensure they are placed on the list to receive recognition. For information on the ceremony, call Rep. Sheryl Briggs at 364-5665.