ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Veterans who served during the Vietnam War era will be honored at a special 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration Ceremony in Albuquerque on July 26 at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, located at 1100 West Louisiana Blvd. SE.

The 10 a.m. ceremony is presented by the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, the New Mexico National Guard, the New Mexico State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and the New Mexico VA Health Care System.

All veterans who served during the Vietnam War era, as well as family members of deceased Vietnam War-era veterans, are invited to attend — and will be presented with a 50th Anniversary Commemorative Pin and a Certificate of Appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
 
For more information, contact DVS Public Information Officer Ray Seva at ray.seva@state.nm.us or (505) 827-6352.
 
The Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration
The ceremony is part of an ongoing nationwide effort launched in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to honor the service and sacrifice of Vietnam War veterans.
 
Communities have been urged to honor the men and women who served during the entire Vietnam War era. Here in New Mexico, DVS was designated as the organization in charge of the commemoration effort — which in 2009 was extended nationwide as a rolling effort through 2025. There have been similar ceremonies in other communities here in New Mexico since the launch of the initiative, and additional ceremonies will be presented in the future.
 
The initiative applies to any man or woman who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War era — from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975. No distinction is made regarding service in-country, in-theater, or elsewhere around the globe during this Vietnam War era. All answered the call of duty.