This month, the Camden County Freeholder Board and Office of Veterans affairs will host a four-day commemorative event in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The event will feature a different program each day beginning Thursday, Sept. 5, and ending Sunday, Sept. 8.

On Thursday, Sept. 5, the Office of Veterans Affairs will host a special Vietnam Veteran Pinning and Medal Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will honor and celebrate veterans of the Vietnam War who are current members of our community.

On Friday, Sept. 6, veterans, their families, and other members of the community will come together for a candlelight remembrance vigil at the Traveling Tribute Wall in Cooper River Park to honor those Vietnam veterans who never returned home.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the County will host a veterans resource fair, featuring family fun, educational activities, and a concert featuring the Tri-County Symphonic Band and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.

The commemoration will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 9, with a closing ceremony and the 9/11 Heroes Run.

The program is hosted by the Board of Freeholders in partnership with the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration, the Philadelphia VA Medical Clinic, and The Travis Manion Foundation, it commemorates the 50th anniversary of the war which began in November 1955 and ended in April 1975. In 2012, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to recognize the 50th anniversary of the war over a 13-year period, during which the federal government would work with local governments to honor and celebrate the veterans in their communities.

For more information regarding Camden County’s Vietnam Commemorative event, please visit http://www.camdencounty.com/WelcomeHomeVietnamVets. For more information about our partners and the history of the Vietnam War, please visit https://www.vietnamwar50th.com.