On Saturday morning, September 29, Vietnam veterans from Habersham County and surrounding areas will have an opportunity to take part in a long overdue public recognition of their military service. The Grant-Reeves VFW Post 7720 and Georgia Department of Veterans Services will hold a certificate and lapel pin presentation ceremony at 11 a.m. at the VFW post in Cornelia.
Georgia Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Mike Roby will present Vietnam veterans with the State’s Certificate of Honor and the Defense Department’s Commemorative Lapel Pin. Every Georgia veteran with honorable service during the Vietnam War (from June 1, 1954 to May 15, 1975) is eligible to receive this certificate. This includes veterans with service in-country and those who served in other capacities.
“It is never the wrong time to say thank you to a veteran, and that is especially true for so many Vietnam War veterans who were never properly thanked when they returned home,” says Commissioner Roby. “We hope to eventually present every Georgia veteran with a Certificate of Honor recognizing their service during the Vietnam War.”
Vietnam veterans interested in participating in the ceremony may download the sign-up application here. Email the completed form along with your DD Form 214 to [email protected] at the GDVS Central Office.
Vietnam veterans may also receive this honor posthumously. Surviving spouses may receive the state certificate and a Defense Department Certificate of Honor and lapel pin as long as the required documentation (veteran’s DD Form 214) is presented with the sign up application.
The deadline to apply is Sept. 25.
You may also fax your information (name, address, and phone number) and DD Form 214 to (404) 656-7006. Submissions should be marked with “Cornelia VFW C&P Ceremony.”
For more information call Brian Zeringue, GDVS Director of Public Information, at (404) 656-5933.
Over 23K Georgia veterans honored so far
The state’s recognition of these veterans is part of the U. S. Department of Defense’s 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War. The Georgia Department of Veterans Service created the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor program in partnership with the Office of Governor Nathan Deal in 2015.
The Georgia Vietnam War Certificate of Honor is personalized with the Vietnam War veteran’s name, rank, branch of service, and dates of service printed over the Seal of the State of Georgia and includes the official U.S. Department of Defense’s Vietnam War Commemorative Partner logo. They are signed by Governor Deal and Commissioner Roby.
Of the over 23,000 certificates issued since March 2015, over 18,000 have been presented in over 310 “Certificate & Lapel Pin” honors ceremonies across Georgia.
There are over 10,000 veterans who reside in Habersham and the bordering counties, many of whom are Vietnam veterans.
For more information about the Certificate of Honor Program and other veteran benefits available in Georgia, visit www.veterans.ga.gov.
