Vietnam War Veterans Honored, Remembered In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township officials took time to remember the sacrifices of those who served in the Vietnam War this week, marking National Vietnam War Veterans Day at Monday's Township Council meeting.

Mayor Robert Arace presented Joseph Rucci from the Manchester Township Veterans Advisory Committee with a proclamation in recognition of the day, which was established in 2017.

March 29 was chosen as the day to Vietnam veterans because March 29, 1973, was the day the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam was ended, and the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam, according to the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration website.

It also was on and around March 29, 1973, that the North Vietnamese released the last of their acknowledged prisoners of war.

The Vietnam War Commemoration honors all veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces between Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that today there are more than 7 million U.S. Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, along with 10 million families of those who served during this timeframe.

U.S. involvement in Vietnam started slowly with an initial deployment of advisors in the early 1950s, grew incrementally through the early 1960s and expanded with the deployment of full combat units in July 1965. The last U.S. personnel were evacuated from Vietnam in April 1975.

"We remain grateful, always, to all who serve our country, including many of our Manchester Township residents," township officials said.