Oklahoma History Center to host Vietnam Veterans Day event
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma History Center Museum is hosting the eighth annual Vietnam Veterans Day event.
According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, the History Center is teaming up with VillagesOKC, the local offices of Humana, Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight, Navigating Medicare and the Force 50 Foundation to hold a pinning ceremony to honor all of the servicemen and servicewomen, active or reservists, who served during the Vietnam War. For veterans who are unable to make it to the ceremony, family members may also receive the pin.
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The ceremony is being held at the Devon Great Hall of the Oklahoma History Center on Friday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to noon. It is free and open to the public.
OHS says March 29 has been named Vietnam Veterans Day by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act to be recognized with annual events across the United States. The act says only Vietnam War veterans and their families are to be commemorated, but the Vietnam War Commemoration organization is giving recognition pins to honor any US veteran who served at any point from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.
The event is also featuring keynote speaker Colonel “Chuck” DeBellevue. He has been named “Ace of Aces”, one of only five to receive that status. Officials say he has also logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions. He has received the Air Force Cross, three Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, 18 Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device. He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the Congressional Gold Medal.
Also speaking at the event will be Colonel Peter Plank. He’s a founder of the Liberty Jump Team who has taken more than 100 World War II veterans back to Normandy and Belgium for free.
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“Taking them to the battlefields they fought in and the villages they liberated is a humbling experience. Being a part of the Liberty Jump Team preserves the memory of those that came before us alive. We owe them that,” says Plank.
Michael Do, an Oklahoma City businessman, will also speak at the event on behalf of the Oklahoma City Vietnamese community and the South Vietnamese military.
Finally, there will be music provided by the 145th Army Band, known as “The Governor’s Own.”
For more information on the event, visit okhistory.org.
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