Welcome Home Veterans - USS Kidd

Welcome Home Veterans

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum is proud to announce that they will once again be hosting "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day," on Saturday, March 12, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the Levee Green in Baton Rouge.This patriotic event, sponsored by Sheet Metal Workers, Local 214, is free and open to the public. Veterans, families, patriots and community members are welcome to attend.

"We encourage everyone to come out and help us honor and recognize our Vietnam Veterans for their service and sacrifice," said USS KIDD Executive Director Alejandra Juan. "We have an incredible keynote speaker that will be sharing his story with the crowd and lots of fun and informational activities planned for everyone to enjoy."

The "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" Ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Louisiana Memorial Plaza. USMC Sgt. and Vietnam Veteran Ken Altazan, who was recently awarded a Navy Cross for heroism, will be the event's keynote speaker.

After the ceremony, guests are invited to the Riverfront Stage to listen to Quiana Lynell and the Lush Life who will be entertaining the crowd with their unique mix of jazz, soul and funk. "The Hooch" will be selling delicious food that will profit Vietnam Veterans and Louisiana Lemonade will be selling refreshing drinks. The Louisiana National Guard will have an inflatable set up, Balloonatics of Baton Rouge will be making balloon animals and various kids' games will be set up on the Baton Rouge levee green.

Ascension Veterans Park, Baton Rouge Navy Club - Ship 661, Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana, Chapter 1, Fleet Reserve Branch #371, Geaux Seven Chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, Marine Corps League,Military Order of the Purple Heart, "The Hooch" - Vietnam Veterans of America, William W. Perkins Weekend, and Women Veterans of Louisianawill all have informational tables set up around the levee green throughout the event. "Vietnam Veterans never received the welcome home that their fathers received after WWII and the Korean War," said USS KIDD Educational Outreach Coordinator Tim NesSmith. "This was a failure for which our nation will never truly be able to atone."

On March 30, 1973, all U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. These service men and women returned from war to a politically divided country and in 2011 the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution to provide Vietnam Veterans with the chance at a proper welcome home.

For the first time since KIDD started hosting this event in 2012, the local organization is now an official Commemorative Partner of the United States of America Vietnam War.

There were 907 sons of Louisiana killed in action during the Vietnam War and their names are engraved here on the walls of the Louisiana Memorial Plaza. KIDD is committed to ensuring that they will never be forgotten. "American citizens can and should set aside one day out of the year to honor these men and women specifically," said NesSmith. Bringing kids and grandkids out to these patriotic events ensures that the mistakes made in the past are never again repeated."

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum will offer free entrance to the museum from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. to "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans" attendees only. Tour admission prices will be half off for veterans and their families all day and available at the regular admission price of: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children ages 5-12 for all others.

For more information about the USS KIDD Veterans Museum, please visit:www.usskidd.com , join their Facebook event: or call (225) 342-1942.