FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: County Executive to Honor Vietnam Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MaryEllen Odell
Putnam County Executive
(845) 808-1001
March 26, 2013

County Executive to Honor Vietnam Veterans

County Executive MaryEllen Odell will gather with members of VFW Post 5491 and their auxiliaries on Friday, March 29 when they hold a dinner and special ceremony in honor of Vietnam Veteran’s Day. The dinner, which will be held at their E. Lake Blvd location, will begin at 6 p.m. with the ceremony scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

March 29 is the date when in 1973, approximately 2500 troops were officially withdrawn from South Vietnam.

“Unfortunately, when our soldiers returned home from their tours of duty in Vietnam and up until the complete withdrawal of the US Armed Forces from Vietnam in 1973, they were never shown the respect they had so honorably earned, nor were they given the thanks they deserved,” said Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “By designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans’ Day, we are taking a first step, albeit an overdue one, to let these men and women know we honor their service and sacrifices and that they are not forgotten.”

American military forces began serving in South Vietnam in 1950 in an advisory capacity. It wasn’t until 1965 that ground troops were deployed. Approximately 58,000 American military men and women lost their lives during the Vietnam War and more than 300,000 service men and women were wounded. Under the terms of the Paris Peace Accords, U.S. service troops were withdrawn on March 29, 1973.