JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Joint Base Langley-Eustis is hosting a Vietnam Commemoration honoring Vietnam Conflict-Service members and their accomplishments May 15-16, 2015, at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
The event is set to take place annually for the next 15 years alternating locations yearly between Fort Eustis and Langley Air Force Base.
"This gives us the opportunity to recognize sacrifices that our prior Service members made in defense of freedom around the world, and to show that our commitment to our South Vietnamese allies is properly recognized," said Lorenzo Riddick, 733rd Mission Services Division director.
This year's commemoration is also held in conjunction with two other events including Retiree Appreciation Day at the Exchange and the Third Port reunion.
Celebrating these events together is significant because many of the Vietnam Veterans are retired, and many of them served with the Third Port and other sustainment organizations here directly involved with the conflict. Hosting the events simultaneously also allows greater opportunity to not only thank many Vietnam Veterans, but show that today's military will never forget the efforts these Veterans made toward freedom, said Riddick.
"We appreciate their sacrifice, and we specifically appreciate their service during the conflict," said Riddick. "The ending of the Vietnam Conflict came at a time of great social change in America. The military was not recognized for its participation in trying to secure freedom for the Vietnamese, who were our allies at the time. We want to make sure we give these Veterans the proper recognition, and this is our opportunity to do so."
Riddick is hoping for maximum community participation and emphasized that the event will not be solemn, but rather a joyful occasion highlighting what Service members accomplished during the Conflict.
For more information about the commemoration and for a list of events, visit
http://new.jbleforcesupport.com/event/vietnam-war-50th-commemoration-2/.