The City of Biddeford will mark the Vietnam War Veterans Day with a commemorative ceremony and flag raising at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 29.  The event, organized by Mayor Marty Grohman and the Veterans Committee, will be held at Memorial Park, located on the corner of Alfred Street and Pool Street.

The ceremony will feature a tribute to Vietnam Veterans by Joseph Armstrong, past president of Vietnam Veterans of America Post 1044, and a tribute to Veterans killed in action by Raoul Goulet, American Legion Post 26. Conrad Letellier, current president of VVA Post 1044, will read of list of servicemen from Maine still missing in action.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designated March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Mayor Grohman will read a proclamation at the March 19 City Council meeting to officially recognize National Vietnam War Veterans Day in Biddeford.

“On this day and every day, I encourage Biddeford residents to take time to honor those who selflessly served, who gave the ultimate sacrifice, who were wounded and who live with those scars daily,” Grohman said. “Those who bore witness and those who are still missing in Southeast Asia, we will never forget you.”

More than 48,000 Mainers served in the Vietnam War, and an additional 16,000 Maine residents were serving worldwide during the Vietnam War era. The names of the 343 Maine residents who laid down their lives are etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. and eleven Maine servicemen remain missing in action.

Biddeford’s commitment to honoring Vietnam Veterans will continue throughout the year. The Wall That Heals, a traveling education center and replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be stationed at Biddeford Middle School from July 18 through July 21, 2024.