The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will host the 11th Annual Iowa Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day Ceremony on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located south of the Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines.
Dan Gannon, Chair of the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, will officiate, and Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of the World Food Prize Foundation, and highly decorated for exemplary service in South Vietnam and Cambodia during the Vietnam War, will be the Honored Keynote Speaker. Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg will also be speaking.
This year’s 50th commemorative ceremony will honor all those who have served in the Vietnam War Era, and especially those spouses and families that have lost loved ones, whether during their service in Vietnam, or later who have died as a result of their service, which has been defined as the “hidden casualties of Vietnam” whose names are not eligible for inscription upon the Wall. These casualties are honored by the Memory Plaque, dedicated on the Vietnam Wall grounds.
Following the ceremony, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) will host a free luncheon at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center (Veterans Memorial Auditorium) located at 833 5th Ave, Des Moines 50309. All are welcome to attend.
Present and available at this lunch will be Secretary of State Paul Pate’s staff, the VA Regional Office, Central Iowa VA Health
Care System – Eligibility and My Healthy Vet, as well as the Daughters of the American Revolution and DAV. Iowa Workforce Development and others have recently joined the lineup as well.
Also at the Vets Auditorium, DAR will be assisting with the handing out to all Iowa Vietnam Era Veterans, who have not received, the Iowa Vietnam War 50th Commemoration “A Time To Honor” Book.
DAR will also be distributing the 50th Commemorative lapel pins, and for the first time, will be distributing specially designed lapel pins and certificates for all spouses and families who have lost loved ones during the Vietnam War or died later as a result of their service in Vietnam.
Location:
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines , Iowa 50319
Contact Information:
Dan Gannon
gannonobx@aol.com515-991-5257