MASSILLON, Ohio — The Stark County Veterans Service Commission (SCVSC) is hosting a Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony this weekend in Massillon.
The national holiday was established as March 29 in 2018, but this year's event in Stark County will take place two days earlier.
The gathering will take place at Massillon Washington High School on March 27, with a ceremony held from 1:00-3:00 pm and refreshments served from 3:00-4:00 pm.
"This special event is open to the public and its purpose is to honor all Vietnam War Era Veterans and give them a long overdue recognition for their service to our country," Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry told 3News.
"There are over 400 Vietnam Era Veterans who have registered to attend the event."
Two Vietnam Veterans will share the stage to give speeches to attendees. Purple Heart recipient and Canton resident Ulysses Kendall, who served as a radio telephone operator as Forward Observer, will be joined by retired Ohio National Guard Brigadier General Tom Luczynski, who left the military with 35 years of service.
Entertainment will be provided by Nashville recording artists Jill Burke and Ricky Lee, along with Vietnam Veteran Tom Wolf.
Each veteran in attendance will be given a Vietnam War Veteran lapel pin with a special message of gratitude on the back.
Veterans who have not yet registered but wish to attend can call 330.451.7439 to register. Registration is not required, but is encouraged. No one will be turned away at the door, but the SCVSC is asking that veterans arrive by noon if possible, in order to be seated in time for the ceremony to being, promptly at 1 pm.
The event will also be streamed live on The Stark County Veterans Service Commission's Facebook page.
