Ver. 7/29/2015
The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration
Speech Template (~10:00) – Commemorative Partners
Plus
Video Option A - Moment of Truth: “Thank You For Your Service” (2:30)
Video Option B - Moment of Truth: “Not Forgotten” (3:50)
Good afternoon (evening), everyone. I am
________(name)________ with _(Commemorative Partner)_
and on behalf of our nation and The United States of
America Vietnam War Commemoration, I want to thank all
of you for coming today (tonight) to join us in thanking and
honoring our Vietnam veterans and their families.
(Option - additional bonafides, if necessary) Our
organization _(optional statement on commitment as______
VWC Commemorative Partner)._______________________
While this Commemoration is focused on specifically
thanking and honoring our 7.2 million living Vietnam
veterans and the 9 million families of those who served
during the Vietnam War period, I’d like to take a moment to
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address all our veterans and their families in attendance
today. Since the birth of the United States, no single
generation of Americans has been spared the responsibility
of defending freedom by force of arms. More than forty-
four million American men and women have sacrificed and
served in time of war – many here counted among
them. Your collective service and individual sacrifices have
safeguarded the cherished concepts embodied in our
Constitution. Whether deployed in harm’s way, all the while
watching over your buddies as they watched over you, or
training and serving at home station … you sacrificed. Our
country, (our community or the city/town/state of …), our
families and our children owe you a debt of gratitude. If you
are able, please rise and allow us to thank you! Ladies &
gentlemen … our heroes! [lead applause]
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In 2008, the Secretary of Defense was authorized by law
to conduct a commemoration of the 50
th
anniversary of the
Vietnam War. The inaugural event occurred at the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial, commonly known as “The Wall,” in
Washington, D.C. on Memorial Day, 2012. The President
was the keynote speaker, and this groundbreaking event was
attended by the most senior military and civilian leaders, but
most importantly … thousands of Vietnam veterans and
their families … the true VIPs.
The President’s words were powerful. He stated, and I
quote, “And one of the most painful chapters in our history
was Vietnam -- most particularly, how we treated our troops
who served there. You were often blamed for a war you
didn't start, when you should have been commended for
serving your country with valor. You were sometimes
blamed for misdeeds of a few, when the honorable service of
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the many should have been praised. You came home and
sometimes were denigrated, when you should have been
celebrated. It was a national shame, a disgrace that should
have never happened. And that's why here today we resolve
that it will not happen again.” Unquote.
(Video Option A) In support of our Vietnam veterans,
INSP Cable Network, a Commemorative Partner like us,
produced and aired this powerful, dramatic tribute ...
Moment of Truth: “Thank You For Your Service” (2:30)
http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/videos/thank_you_for_your_service/
That was entitled “Thank You, For Your Service” and
it can be seen on the Commemoration website at
vietnamwar50th.com/videos.
Now, all military families endure the hardship of
separation, uncertainty and fear, but the families of our
Vietnam veterans also witnessed their husbands and wives,
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sons and daughters, and fathers and mothers returning
home to a nation in turmoil. They watched as the vast
majority received no formal recognition for their service, or
welcome home ceremonies hosted by their communities.
These service members, who had chosen to honor our
nation’s call, were encouraged to travel home, not in
uniform, but in civilian clothes. Those who were able quietly
slipped back into the lives they had left … although they
were profoundly impacted by their experiences.
Like veterans returning from today’s battlefields, those
who served in Vietnam came home with both physical and
unseen injuries of war. Sadly, many of the unseen injuries
suffered by our Vietnam veterans went undiagnosed and
weren’t understood by our medical community, or citizenry,
as they are now. Veterans were left to meet these challenges
without the outpouring of assistance available today.
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However, too many who fought in Vietnam never
experienced that return home or the chance to marry and
have children or grandchildren. Their future was cut short;
their hopes and dreams along with it. And the families of
those who didn’t return … whose names are etched on the
Wall … experienced the painful loss of a loved one without
the collective support of their nation.
Yes, history makes crystal clear the importance of this
Commemoration. Vietnam was a long war, and accordingly
a long commemoration period is planned. By presidential
proclamation, the Commemoration extends from Memorial
Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025.
Through this Commemoration, we intend to offer the
thanks of our nation to as many as possible of the 7.2 million
living Vietnam veterans and the 9 million families of those
who served from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975.
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These inclusive dates have been selected for this
Commemoration in order to maximize the recognition of
United States military veterans who served on active duty
during the Vietnam War period. No distinction is being
made between veterans who served in-country, in-theater or
who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War
period. All were called to serve and the overwhelming
majority served honorably and admirably.
Our military served in Vietnam under six different
presidents. President Truman authorized the first U.S.
advisors to serve with the French, and President Ford was in
office at the conclusion.
- 58,307 names appear on the Wall in Washington, D.C. –
their average age … 23.1 years.
- Many tens of thousands were disabled.
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- Approximately 7,500 women, the majority of whom were
nurses, served in Vietnam; 8 were killed in theater, all of
whom were nurses.
- And, 1,627 are still considered missing in action and their
families await word of their fate.
(Video Option B) Moment of Truth: “Not Forgotten” (3:50)
http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/videos/not_forgotten/
That was entitled “Not Forgotten,” a powerful,
dramatic tribute to our missing personnel and the families
who await their return. It was produced and aired by
INSP Cable Network, a Commemorative Partner like us,
and it can be seen on the Commemoration’s website at
vietnamwar50th.com/videos.
These facts (The facts I shared prior to the video)
provide us some context and understanding of the true cost
of war. It is not measured in dollars and cents, but in lives
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… neighbors, friends and family who come home with seen
and unseen scars that need mending and extensive care, or
do not come home at all.
These facts also are best understood by those who
served … and their families. Some continued to serve in
uniform, while many returned to civilian life, started
families and immediately began contributing to their
communities. Some took up service as police officers,
teachers, doctors and nurses. From town halls and
boardrooms to the nation’s Capital, others became leaders
and elected public servants.
Vietnam veterans also mentored those that followed
them in uniform and built the foundations of today’s
military. Their experience and leadership led to successes in
Panama, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraqi Freedom and
Enduring Freedom … veterans like Army General Colin
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Powell, who became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff and later Secretary of State; Air Force General
Richard Myers, Marine General Peter Pace and Navy
Admiral Mike Mullen, all who rose to become Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and finally, the late Army General
Norman Schwarzkopf, who led our troops victoriously in
Operation Desert Storm.
There are so many more whose names you would
recognize, but are far too numerous to mention. These
leaders established strategies, tactics and standards that
would ensure success. The impact they and other Vietnam
veterans from every Service had on our current military and
its leaders was significant.
As World War II and the Korean War reached their
50
th
anniversary, our nation commemorated our warriors’
service and sacrifice. Now, authorized by Congress and the
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president, and on behalf of the nation, we have the
opportunity to do what should have been done 50 years ago:
welcome our Vietnam veterans home with honor, and thank
them and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Across the country, more than 8,000 local, state and
federal organizations just like ours have become
Commemorative Partners, committed to hosting at least two
events each year from 2015 to 2017 to thank and honor our
Vietnam veterans and their families. Hundreds of thousands
already have been welcomed home in hometown-centric
public ceremonies like this one since this program began,
and today (tonight) we have the distinct privilege to add to
those numbers!
By the way, the Department of Veterans Affairs and
U.S. Census Bureau numbers indicate that those 7.2 million
Vietnam veterans equal 1 in every 44 Americans, that’s all
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men, women and children. When you consider just those 65
years and older, that number becomes 1 in every 8
Americans, and when you consider just men that age, it’s 1
in every 3!
[Insert your ceremony comments, or …]
Based on those numbers, I’m certain we have Vietnam
veterans and their families in this audience. While this is not
the individual, hometown recognition we envision for each of
you, I ask that every Vietnam veteran among us please
stand, so we might recognize your service and sacrifice, and
finally begin the “welcome home” you so richly deserve!
[slight pause for standing] Ladies & gentlemen … your
Vietnam veterans! [lead applause]
[when applause begins to wane] And, if their families
will stand and join them … you also are to be commended
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for the sacrifices you’ve endured for this country! [lead
renewed applause]
Once again, I am privileged to be with you today
(tonight); the Commemoration’s cause is indeed noble, and
thanking and honoring these veterans and their families is
the right thing to do. I encourage everyone here to please
take a moment before you depart to reach out and shake the
hand of one of those who just stood … they all deserve our
thanks and admiration. Thank you, and God bless.
