Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33)
For too long, our Vietnam veterans bore the weight of war without the recognition and gratitude they deserved. They fought with valor, bled for our freedoms and returned home not to parades, but to protests – a disgraceful injustice that must never be repeated.
That is why I am introducing a resolution to recognize March 29, 2025, as Vietnam War Veterans Day in Pennsylvania – a day to honor their sacrifice, acknowledge their heroism and finally give them the thanks they should have received decades ago.
Freedom comes at a cost. More than 58,000 American service members gave their lives in Vietnam – each one a son, father, brother, husband or friend who never came home.
More than 300,000 were wounded, carrying both visible and invisible scars for the rest of their lives.
Hundreds of prisoners of war suffered unspeakable horrors, and too many never made it back.
Millions of American families were forever changed – parents lost their children, wives became widows and children grew up without their fathers.
Their courage, their sacrifice and their suffering must never be forgotten.
March 29 marks the day in 1973 when the last United States combat troops left Vietnam. It was the end of American involvement that saw extraordinary heroism in the face of impossible odds. Despite being treated with indifference, hostility or outright scorn upon returning home, these warriors stood tall. They carried their burdens with quiet dignity, built lives, raised families and continued to serve their communities and their country. Today, we make this promise: NEVER AGAIN will America fail to honor its warriors.
Though they returned to a divided nation, Vietnam veterans forged a new path: they fought for recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder as a real combat injury, ensuring that future generations of warriors receive the care they need. They built a brotherhood that extended beyond the battlefield, forming support organizations like the Vietnam Veterans of America to help their fellow warriors. They led the charge for better health care for veterans, pushing for improvements in VA services. They mentored younger generations of troops so no service member would ever come home to the same treatment they endured.
To every school, every business, every citizen of Pennsylvania: March 29 is NOT just another day. It is a day to reflect on the price of freedom. It is a day to educate our children on the valor of those who came before them. It is a day to shake a veteran’s hand, say “thank you” and mean it.
These men and women stood for us in the jungles of Vietnam. Now, we must stand for them – not just on this day, but every day.
Sen. Doug Mastriano represents the 33rd Senatorial District, covering all of Adams and Franklin counties.