Today is Vietnam War Veterans Day, and locally it was observed in a most esteemed manner on Thursday.

Vietnam veterans and guests were treated to a luncheon at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, with about 300 people in attendance.

The luncheon was hosted jointly by the Carbon County Office of Veterans Affairs and Veterans Suicide Prevention and Awareness program.

Christine LeClair, director of the Office of Veterans Affairs in Carbon County, told how she had served two tours of duty in the Gulf War, and when she arrived home was greeted with balloons and flag-waving crowds. Vietnam veterans who returned home didn’t receive such welcomes. Because of the unpopularity of the war, many were disrespected at that time.

“I remember the Vietnam veterans not getting the thank you they deserved, the same of Korean veterans,” said state Sen. David Argall, who also addressed the gathering. “You should have heard this a long time ago, but ‘thank you’ for your service. We should never, never, ever let happen again what happened to you Vietnam veterans.”

Speaking with the veterans, though, they were grateful for the recognition they received at the luncheon and showed no outward signs of regrets for the loyalty they shared while serving in the war, especially the allegiance to one another.

All had stories to tell, from coming under attack by snipers to bumping into longtime friends 8,500 miles from home to the anguish of seeing members of their units die at the hands of the enemy.

The Vietnam War claimed more than 58,000 American lives and 2 million Vietnam soldiers and civilians.

March 29 was chosen as National Vietnam War Veterans Day because on that day in 1973, the Military Assistance Command Vietnam was disbanded by President Richard Nixon, and the last U.S. combat troops departed from the Republic of Vietnam.

The National Vietnam War Veterans Day was proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2012, then on March 28, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, officially recognizing March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

Although the fighting was supposed to end on March 29, 1973, the last Americans weren’t withdrawn from the country until April 30, 1975, when South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam.

At the luncheon, students representing Jim Thorpe Area, Lehighton Area, Panther Valley, Weatherly and Marian high schools were present.

The Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) of Panther Valley participated with the presentation of the colors.

Marian Catholic student Noah McGinley offered a prayer.

The national anthem was sung by Jim Thorpe student Hannah Yoder. As she sang, the veterans stood like the soldiers they were, standing still with double fingers on their foreheads at a salute.

Deven Armbruster of Lehighton Area High School read the script for the “Missing Man Table,” a lone table in the corner of the banquet hall with solemn decor — each piece with special importance — to serve as remembrance of those still missing as the result of combat.

Jennifer Spitler of Scranton, regional program outreach coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Argall, presented certificates to each of the schools for participation.

LeClair said this was the third luncheon for the veterans. The first was held at the Lehighton American Legion Post, but it was then moved to Penn’s Peak to accommodate more veterans.

She has a deep respect for all veterans, having served in combat during two tours in Iraq. In Iraq she served in the area of Tikrit, which was the hometown of Saddam Hussein. She defined her company “as a whole other family I came to know and love.”

Her main job was aviator operator.

She told the gathering, “When I think about courage, I think about Vietnam veteran as well as all the other veterans.”

Spitler said the luncheon is more than a social gathering for the veterans, although socializing is an important component. Some of the people reconnected with friends, while others made new friends.

The luncheon “builds connections,” she said.

“This group of people would probably not reach out for help if they needed it,” Spitler said. “They’re self-sufficient. They feel if they ask for help they’re taking away from some other veterans who need it more. We tell them, ‘This program is for you. If you don’t use these services, Congress will take away the funding.’ ”

It’s also part of veterans suicide prevention, she said.

Jen Kuehner, representing St. Luke’s Hospital Victory for Veterans Program, offered literature for the outreach programs the hospital has available.

Representatives of the Carbon County Agency on Aging and the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs also attended.