JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
To honor the 50-year anniversary of the Vietnam War, U.S. Service members hosted Vietnam commemoration at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, May 18-20, 2016.
Across the two installations, the week of remembrance held events including a demonstration of wound care advancements since the Vietnam era, a veteran commemoration ceremony and luncheon, and a National Defenders' Vietnam Memorial ride
In 2012, President Obama established the commemoration as a 13-year program to honor veterans, each year that the U.S. was involved in the Vietnam War.
"The purpose of our ceremony is to thank and honor our Vietnam veterans," said Miller. "For their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States."
During the commemoration ceremony, retired Capt. William Robinson, the longest-held enlisted POW in U.S. history, shared some of his experience while serving in the military his time spent in captivity.
After several assignments in the U.S. and a year in Korea, the then-Airman 1st Class Robinson was assigned to an Air Rescue and Recovery Unit in Thailand in 1965. While on a rescue mission in September of that year, he and his crew were shot down and captured in North Vietnam during an attempt to save a downed pilot.
"What if like a dream, your freedom disappeared," said Robinson. "That's what happened to me."
In a matter of minutes, Robinson explained how he witnessed miracles in the wake of the devastation.
"I couldn't explain how I walked away after falling from a plane 90 feet from above," said Robinson. "Or how I didn't [really] have any scratches, or how I wasn't executed on the spot."
He spent seven and a half years in North Vietnam until his release in 1973.
"Could you imagine? ," said Robinson. "...I looked at a door that did not have an inside knob."
After returning to the U.S., Robinson was the first enlisted person to receive the Air Force Cross, and one of three Service members directly commissioned to lieutenant.
"It is indeed an honor to be here today to share a few minutes," said Robinson. "And especially for those who wear the uniform today, thank you, for the freedoms that I and America enjoy because of your dedicated duty to our country."
JBLE plans to honor Vietnam veterans and their families annually by hosting the event for the next 15 years, and will alternate locations between Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base.
"Memorial Day is a time to honor our veterans," said U.S. Air Force Col. Caroline Miller, commander of the 633rd Air Base Wing. "So we chose May to hold our Vietnam Commemoration here at Langley."
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 9 million Americans served on active duty in the Armed Forces during the period of the Vietnam War; 7 million are still alive today.
For more information on the Vietnam Commemoration visit
www.vietnamwar50th.com.