[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9674 of November 10, 2017

Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Today, I lead our Nation in somber reflection as we continue the 13-year
Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War that began in
2012. We salute our brave Vietnam veterans who, in service to our Nation
and in defense of liberty, fought gallantly against the spread of
communism and defended the freedom of the Vietnamese people.
Fifty years ago, in 1967, nearly 500,000 American troops served in South
Vietnam, along with approximately 850,000 troops of our allies. Today,
during Veterans and Military Families Month and as the Federal
Government observes Veterans Day, I am in Vietnam alongside business and
political leaders to advance the interests of America, and to promote
peace and stability in this region and around the world. I cherish this
opportunity to recall, with humility, the sacrifices our veterans made
for our freedom and our Nation's strength.
During this Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, we
embrace our responsibility to help our Vietnam veterans and their
families heal from the heavy toll of war. We remember the more than
58,000 whose names are memorialized on a black granite wall in our
Nation's capital for having borne the heaviest cost of war. We also pay
tribute to the brave patriots who suffered as prisoners of war, and we
stand steadfast in our commitment not to rest until we account for the
1,253 heroes who have not yet returned to American soil.
To ensure the sacrifices of the 9 million heroes who served during this
difficult chapter of our country's history are remembered for
generations to come, I signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans
Recognition Act of 2017, designating March 29 of each year as National
Vietnam War Veterans Day. Throughout this Commemoration of the 50th Anni

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versary of the Vietnam War, and every March 29 thereafter, we will honor
all those who answered our Nation's call to duty. We vow to never again
confuse personal disapproval of war with prejudice against those who
honorably wear the uniform of our Armed Forces. With conviction, our
Nation pledges our enduring respect, our continuing care, and our
everlasting commitment to all Vietnam veterans.
We applaud the thousands of local, State, and national organizations,
businesses, and governmental entities that have already partnered with
the Federal Government in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of
the Vietnam War. Because of their remarkable leadership and dedication,
countless Vietnam veterans and their families have been personally and
publicly thanked and honored in ceremonies in towns and cities
throughout our country. During my Administration, I promise to continue
coordinated efforts to recognize all veterans of the Vietnam War for
their service and sacrifice, and to provide them with the heartfelt
acknowledgement and gratitude that they and their families so richly
deserve.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby confirm the commitment of this
Nation to the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War,
which began on Memorial Day, 2012 and will continue through Veterans
Day, 2025. I call upon all Americans to offer each of our Vietnam
veterans and their families a thank you on behalf of the Nation, both
privately and during public ceremonies and programs across our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
second.
DONALD J. TRUMP