The Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County will be honoring area troops both living and deceased on Thursday.

“The first Vietnam Veterans Day was signed off by President Nixon on March 29, 1974,” past Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County Commander Harry J. Wynn III said. “We started doing this five years ago, and we do it every year to honor the Vietnam veterans that honorably served during the Vietnam War.”

March 29, 1973, was the day that the last combat troops were ordered out of Vietnam.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s proclamation honoring the commemoration of the 50th anniversary for Vietnam War Month highlighted the sacrifices of the 325,208 Pennsylvanians who served, along with the 3,147 killed in action and the 90 who are still unaccounted for.

“Whereas, we remember the men and women who so honorably served during more than a decade of fighting in the challenging terrains of Southeast Asia, where they faced extraordinary and unprecedented dangers; we will never forget their sacrifice and we value their continued service to their fellow veterans today, as they embody the motto the Vietnam Veterans of American: ‘Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another,’ ” ... the proclamation reads.

A north group will meet at the Summit Hill American Legion Post 316 at 9 a.m., with the south group meeting at the Lehighton Legion Post 314 at 10 a.m. The group’s members will make stops at cemeteries, memorials and Legions along the way, paying tribute to those who served and gave their lives during Vietnam.

“We’re going to hit most of the cemeteries in Carbon and some of the ones in Schuylkill County. We’re going to hold a gun salute and play taps. We feel that it is a proper salute to the troops,” Wynn said.

The groups will come together at the PFC Clyde R. Houser building on Third Street in Lehighton at 3 p.m., and then head to the Lehighton Legion.

Wynn will conduct the call to order, and Chaplain Dan Bauer will read the prayer. The memorial will pay homage to 14 Carbon County soldiers who were killed in action, and 18 deceased members of the veterans group.

Remarks from Wynn, current Commander Robert Paul and others will follow.

The ceremony will close with a prayer from Bauer, a salute and firing squad led by Curt Snyder, and taps.

“It’s a day to honor all the veterans, alive or deceased, who served in the Vietnam War,” Wynn said.

Itineraries

North group

9-9:15 a.m.: Meet at Summit Hill American Legion Post 316

9:30-9:45 a.m.: St. Joseph’s Cemetery

10-10:15 a.m.: Lansford American Legion Post 123

10:30-10:45 a.m.: Kennedy Park

11:00-11:15 a.m.: Nesquehoning Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8008

11:45 a.m.-noon: Lehigh and Lausanne Rural Vol. Fire Co.

12:15-12:30 p.m.: Old Weatherly High School

12:45-1 p.m.: Beaver Meadows Park

1:15-1:30 p.m.: Tresckow Little League field

1:45-2 p.m.: McAdoo Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6708

2:15-2:30 p.m.: Skyview Memorial Park

2:45-3 p.m.: PFC Clyde R. Houser building

South group

10 a.m.: Meet at Lehighton American Legion Post 314

10:15-10:30 a.m.: Parryville Cemetery

10:45-11:15 a.m.: Palmerton Park

11:30-11:45 a.m.: Jerusalem United Church of Christ

12:15-12:30 p.m.: Marvin Gardens Trailhead

12:45-1 p.m.: Dinkey Memorial Cemetery

1:15-1:30 p.m.: St. John’s Church Cemetery

2-2:15 p.m.: Jim Thorpe Vietnam Memorial

2:45-3 p.m.: PFC Clyde R. Houser building