Veterans of the Vietnam War era and their families are invited to attend a free picnic Saturday in Riverside Park where they will be honored with a commemorative pin approved by Congress.
"We just want to say thank you for your service from a grateful nation," said Peggy Vanyo, a member of the Prairie Grass chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who helped organize the Grand Forks event with the UND ROTC.
Anyone who served in any branch of the U.S. military from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of station location, is eligible to receive a commemorative lapel pin. The pin was commissioned by Congress in 2008 as part of the Vietnam War Commemoration to honor those who served during the era.
The Grand Forks picnic is one of 10,452 events scheduled to honor Vietnam vets nationwide, according to the Vietnam War Commemoration.
The picnic will begin at noon with a color presentation from the UND ROTC and a performance of the national anthem from local singer Jozy Hansen, who performs as Jozy Bernadette.
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UND ROTC Cadet Michael Jaeger and Vanyo will emcee the event. There will be speakers at the picnic, including Mayor Mike Brown and ROTC Commander Lt. Col. Jason Murphy.
Vanyo said volunteers are coming to help set up the event from the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
The picnic will go until 5 p.m. North Dakota country music artist Joe Schmidt is performing at the event.
Vanyo said there are at least three Vietnam veterans at the Valley Elder Care. Friday a retired military officer coming to help with the event will go with Vanyo and other DAR members to give those veterans their pins and thank them for their service.
Vanyo said the DAR headquarters in Washington, D.C., sent out a message to local chapters asking for help hosting commemoration events. There are 41 members of the DAR in Grand Forks, Vanyo said, all of whom can trace back their lineage to at least one veteran of the Revolutionary War. They agreed to help.
They've traveled to different towns in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota to spread the word by posting fliers at VFW and American Legion posts.
Vanyo said about 500 people are expected to attend Saturday's event.
