Vietnam Pinning Ceremonies To Honor Alabama Vietnam Veterans

When American soldiers returned home from the Vietnam War fifty years ago, they were not afforded a hero's welcome as in past wars. In fact, the soldiers were treated so poorly upon their return to the USA, that the military began sending them back home at times when the airplanes would land at the airports on American soil between midnight and two in the morning. Many of those soldiers were drafted into the war and involved in it not by choice. And in the end, with the fall of Saigon in 1975, Vietnam was reunified underneath Communist rule.

However, in an effort to remedy the lack of a hero's welcome that the American soldiers received during that time, Congressman Robert Aderholt is hosting two Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremonies to honor Vietnam Veterans from Alabama's Fourth District.

The first Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremony will be held on Friday, August 22nd, 2025 at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia. It is scheduled to begin at 10:30AM. The second Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremony hosted by Congressman Robert Aderholt will be held on Friday, August 29th, 2025 at the Blount County Agri-Business Center in Cleveland, Alabama. A ceremony which is also scheduled to begin at 10:30AM.

The USA's presence in Vietnam peaked in April of 1969 with 543,000 military personnel being stationed in Vietnam. With Alabama's contribution to the service members stationed there estimated at 114,232 and 1,210 service members from Alabama being listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which represents those who died during Vietnam.

It was one of the first televised wars. And the ramifications of Vietnam deeply impacted American society. As the horrors of war were revealed. With Alabama Vietnam veterans reporting how "you would see and hear" soldiers crying. Some of whom were as young as sixteen years old. As some young lads who had grown up hearing stories of World War II and how celebrated the veterans were, enlisted in the armed forces, little knowing the realities of what they were getting involved in. In fact, Vietnam was the catalyst that led Congress to replace the military draft with an all-volunteer force. And due to the young age of the soldiers being sent to Vietnam, Vietnam also served as the catalyst to reduce the voting age down from 21 to 18 years of age.

The Veterans Administration estimates that there are still around 6.4 million Vietnam-era veterans still alive throughout the country. And Congressman Robert Aderholt is asking Alabamians who would like to be honored at one of the Vietnam Veterans Pinning Ceremonies to register at https://aderholt.house.gov/services/vietnam-veterans-50th-anniversary-pin-program or to call his offices at (256) 546-0201. It is requested that people register by August 18th, 2025 to participate in the pinning ceremonies.