The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center observed National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29 with an event dedicated to honoring Vietnam War veterans and their families, reinforcing a commitment to recognize those who served during one of the most divisive periods in American military history.
Each year, March 29 marks a solemn milestone in U.S. military history. On this date in 1973, the United States disbanded the Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV), effectively ending direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
That same day, the last combat troops departed the Republic of Vietnam after nearly two decades of involvement. In 1974, President Richard Nixon selected March 29 as the original date to commemorate the service of Vietnam veterans, though formal national recognition came decades later.
The War Memorial Center hosted a morning, inviting veterans, family members, and community leaders to reflect on the war’s legacy and honor those who served. The programming highlighted not only military sacrifice but the lingering impact on veterans and their families, many of whom never received a proper welcome home.
The commemorations included participation from Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter One, which has played a central role in supporting Wisconsin veterans. The chapter has held ceremonies on this date annually at the Southeast Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Veterans Park.
The memorial site is composed of three granite columns symbolizing the fates of those who served: killed in action, prisoners of war and missing in action, and those who returned home.
It stands as a lasting tribute to the more than 1,200 Wisconsinites who died during the conflict. The structure was established three decades ago after a multi-year campaign led by local veterans.
Wisconsin has taken additional steps to formally recognize March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. In 2009, the state officially designated the date to honor the 1,239 service members from Wisconsin listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC, aligning with efforts already underway in other states.
Nationally, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 established March 29 as an annual day of remembrance. Prior to its passage, various states and organizations marked the date as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.”
The federal designation ensured that the commemoration became part of the broader national calendar of military observances. For the veterans who participated on March 29, the ceremony served as both a public statement of remembrance and a private reckoning with the past.
Guest speakers at the day’s event included Dale School, president of WVV Chapter One; Gary Schlenvogh, chaplain; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley – who lost an uncle fighting in Vietnam; Co Nguyen, interim director of the War Memorial Center; and Paul Rodgers, president of the Milwaukee Air and Water Show.
Each speaker underscored the need for ongoing support for Vietnam veterans and recognition of their contributions to national service.
The War Memorial Center emphasized that the day’s observances were not political in nature but focused on respect, remembrance, and community. The organization continues to host educational and commemorative programming aimed at bridging generational gaps in understanding the Vietnam War and its impact.
With the war now more than 50 years in the past, Vietnam veterans are all in their senior years, and local officials stressed the urgency of preserving their stories and ensuring access to care. Veterans advocates have pointed to continued challenges in health care, mental health, and VA benefits as areas requiring attention.
The commemorative effort reflects a larger national trend to recognize the Vietnam War’s human toll. While World War II has long been integrated into public memory and civic rituals, the Korean War and Vietnam War have remained a point of historical and emotional contention.
As National Vietnam War Veterans Day gains wider recognition, institutions such as the War Memorial Center aim to make it a cornerstone of local civic life. The hope among organizers is that public remembrance will lead to renewed advocacy, deeper understanding, and sustained efforts to meet the needs of aging veterans.
While the scars of war may remain for many who served, community efforts for veterans in Milwaukee reflect a growing and overdue acknowledgment of their sacrifice and service. For the families of the fallen, the veterans who returned, and the broader public, March 29 stands as a day of remembrance, reconciliation, and gratitude.
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Lee Matz
