Veterans from throughout the area commemorated National Vietnam War Veterans Day on Saturday and altogether made 21 stops at monuments and memorials throughout the area.

Each stop featured a prayer, a gun salute, and the playing of taps.

Stephen Vlossak, a Vietnam veteran from Palmerton, read the prayer at the Lehighton American Legion.

“Dear Lord; every year on this 29th of March, we Vietnam Veterans, and those who love and care for them, we ask you for healing of memories, forgiveness for misdeeds, and blessings for the freedom we enjoy in America,” Vlossak said.

“May our observance be a timely reminder that our freedom was purchased at a high cost, and should not be taken for granted. Bless the families and friends of those we honor today, and bless the veterans who share memories, stories, and tears to enrich this day.”

He asked for eternal rest for all those whose names are inscribed on the wall.

The group that started in Lehighton visited nine monuments and memorials around the area, including Jim Thorpe and Trachsville.

The second group started out at St. Joseph’s in White Bear, and stopped at twelve monuments and memorials in Summit Hill, Lansford, Nesquehoning, White Haven, Weatherly, Beaver Meadows, Tresckow, and McAdoo.

“Our last stop before coming here is Sky-View Cemetery (Hometown) because a lot of Carbon County Vietnam veterans are buried there,” explained Rudy Balas, commander of the Vietnam Veterans Organization of Carbon County.

Both groups met at the PFC Clyde Houser Complex a little after noon and held the final service there.

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 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.