DAHLONEGA - In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, this Veterans Day the University of North Georgia (UNG) will honor and recognize all Vietnam veterans in and around the Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee areas.
UNG serves as one of the commemorative partners of the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative movement – a federal initiative to educate citizens about the sacrifice and contributions of Vietnam veterans and their families.
In connection with the national initiative, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service and Gov. Nathan Deal's office have initiated a Certificate of Honor program with the goal of the ceremonial presentation of a certificate to each of Georgia's 234,000 Vietnam veterans.
On Nov. 11, UNG will present certificates to all those Vietnam veterans who pre-register to attend a presentation ceremony at noon and its military review on the Dahlonega Campus at 4:00. All veterans and active-duty service members will also be honored during the event.
The guest speaker will be Ray Rottman, director of Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS).
"As a senior military college, the University of North Georgia is proud to honor our veterans, who are the pride of our nation. They have fought our wars, defended our shores and kept us free," said Col. Tom Palmer, commandant of cadets at UNG. "We are especially proud to support Vietnam veterans. This Veterans Day, please be sure to thank the Vietnam-era veterans. They did not receive a hero's welcome when they returned home."
Every Georgia veteran with honorable service during the Vietnam War is eligible to receive this certificate, including veterans with service in-country and those who served in other capacities. Each certificate is personalized with the Vietnam War veteran's name, rank, branch of service, and dates of service printed over the Georgia state seal, and includes the official U.S. Department of Defense's Vietnam War Commemorative Partner logo. They are signed by Deal and Georgia Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Mike Roby.
The UNG event is free and open to the public and will take place on the Gen. William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field. To be recognized, Georgia veterans are invited to submit full name, rank, branch of service, and dates of service (years from-to) by email to [email protected] or by phone to the Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving at 706-864-1547.
