Illinois Valley Times

March 29 was the fifth annual observance of National Vietnam War Veterans’ Day, and Rep. David Allen Welter (R-Kendall) took to social media to commemorate the day.

“Thank you to all of the Vietnam Veterans who served our nation. We are grateful and forever indebted. #WelcomeHome #VietnamWarVeteransDay,” Welter (R-Kendall) posted on Facebook.

The national day of recognizing Vietnam War veterans was established in 2017 after President Donald J. Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act into law. March 29 was designated as the day to honor the war veterans every year.

Although Trump authorized it into a national day of recognition. President Barack Obama proclaimed the holiday in 2012, according to a Fox News report.

On March 28, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation to commemorate the day. It included: “On National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we honor all those who bravely served in the Vietnam War and who sacrificed, as did their families and caregivers, on behalf of our Nation. For almost two decades, Americans raised their right hands and committed to serve and defend our Constitution as uniformed members of the United States Armed Forces during a tumultuous period in our country’s history. Throughout the years of the Vietnam War, 9 million Americans earned the title of United States veteran. Today and every day, we honor their bravery and commitment and give thanks to a generation of Americans who valiantly fought in service of the country they love while recognizing the continuing impact on so many veterans of the Vietnam conflict, along with their families, caregivers, and survivors. We will always remember those we lost and honor those who came home.”