Certificate & Lapel Pin Ceremony to Honor Local Vietnam Veterans

Description

Vietnam veterans from Pickens and the surrounding counties have an opportunity to take part in a long overdue public recognition of their military service at a certificate and lapel pin presentation ceremony.

Georgia Department of Veterans Service Commissioner Mike Roby will join Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5262 – Canton, The American Legion Department of Georgia Posts from District 9 and Marine Corps League Detachments from Central North Georgia in presenting the State’s Certificate of Honor and the Defense Department’s Commemorative Lapel Pin to those Vietnam veterans who sign up; both presented for honorable military service during the Vietnam War.

The deadline to sign up is 5 p.m., Wednesday, August 14, 2019.

“It is never the wrong time to say thank you to a veteran, and that is especially true for the many Vietnam War veterans who were never properly thanked when they returned home,” said Commissioner Roby. “We hope to eventually present every Georgia veteran with a Certificate of Honor recognizing their service during the Vietnam War.” 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.

Vietnam veterans interested in participating should contact the GDVS Central Office via email at bzeringue@vs.state.ga.us with their DD Form 214 attached, or fax their information (name, address, and phone number) and DD Form 214 to 404-656-7006. Submissions should be marked with “Jasper Certificates.”

For more information call Brian Zeringue, GDVS Director of Public Information, at 404-656-5933.

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.

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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 continues the Vietnam War Certificate of Honor program which began in the spring of 2015 with the support and cooperation of the Office of Governor Brian Kemp. 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 Kemp and Commissioner Roby. Of the over 27,500 certificates issued since March 2015, nearly 22,000 have been presented in over 330 “Certificate & Lapel Pin” honors ceremonies across Georgia. There are over 33,600 veterans who reside in Pickens and the bordering counties, many of whom are Vietnam veterans. Additional information about the Certificate of Honor Program and other veteran benefits is available at www.veterans.ga.gov.