A quilt, wreaths, salutes, and a war chest of memories came together on Saturday in an inspiring ceremony honoring America’s Vietnam War veterans.
A sizeable crowd gathered at Freedom Park in Cleveland to pay tribute to the veterans who served and were lost in one of our nation’s longest wars. The event coincides with National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which will be observed Monday, March 29. That date is significant because, on March 29, 1973, the United States withdrew from Vietnam as agreed to in the Paris Peace Accords. March 29 also falls around the time when Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.
This year marks 48 years since the United States pulled its troops from Vietnam, and 566 surviving U.S. military POWs returned home.
Organizers of Saturday’s event paid special tribute to White County Navy veteran, retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Paul Kozoroz. Members of the Quilts of Valor group presented him with a quilt specially hand-crafted for him.
Kozoroz served 34 years in the U.S. Navy and obtained the highest rank an enlisted sailor can achieve. He served four combat tours in Vietnam.
Americans are encouraged to fly their U.S. flags Monday to honor the nation’s Vietnam veterans to thank them and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Dean Dyer of WRWH Radio contributed to this report
