Montgomery County Plans Salute for Vietnam Veterans

A former prisoner of war during the Vietnam War and former “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer will be among the featured speakers at the Oct. 24 Montgomery County salute to veterans of the conflict.

Schieffer, who recently retired as host of CBS News’ Face the Nation, will serve as the host and guest speaker for Honor and Gratitude: Montgomery Salutes Vietnam Veterans that will be the first significant event in the 40 years since to honor the county’s Vietnam veterans. It is estimated that between 130 and 140 Montgomery County residents died in the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975.

Everett Alvarez Jr., a Navy pilot held prisoner in North Vietnam for more than eight years after his plane was shot down in 1964 and who lives in Potomac, will be among the featured speakers on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Montgomery County honors the men and women who served the nation during the Vietnam War.

County Executive Ike Leggett (who is a Vietnam veteran), Council President George Leventhal and the County Council will lead the special ceremonies that will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville.

The event will be simulcast live on many of the county’s public cable television channels that compose the PEG (Public, Education, Government) organization, which is hosting the event. In addition, the PEG organization will be recording the stories of many of the veterans for a documentary.

There are more than 13,000 Vietnam veterans living in Montgomery County.

Speakers at the event will include veterans who served in various aspects of the Vietnam War. The event will honor their service and also will look at how those experiences influenced their lives since.

“So many in our community heroically served our nation, and the world, 40 years ago,” said Council President Leventhal. “October 24 will be a day where our county recognizes those whose actions helped that had such a great impact on our nation. There have been many books written, and many movies made, about the people we will honor, but on this day, we will personally thank—and hear directly from—some of the men and women who did so much to shape the life and freedom we know today.”

An important part of event will be the opportunity to record the stories of the Montgomery residents who served in Vietnam.

Register today to attend the free event.