Solvang Event Recognizes Vietnam Veterans Day

Aptly named Veterans

By Mike Chaldu michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

When Pam Gnekow was looking for another venue for this year's Vietnam Veterans Memorial Day event, an aptly named facility was made available.

And so it was that the second annual Veterans Memorial Day event found itself being held at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall on Wednesday, March 29.

"I had planned on having the event in Buellton on Avenue of Flags, but with the recent weather, we really couldn't risk it," said Gnekow, CEO of Santa Ynez Valley Outreach, which put on the event along with the Cloverlane Foundation.

However, Gnekow had an ally in Alvin Salge, commander of the VFW Post 7139, who was able to secure the Veterans Hall for the event. And on Wednesday, there was a nearly full house in the hall for the ceremony.

"We've had a great turnout, and this year we're ready for it," Gnekow said. "This is actually the sec- ond year we're doing it. Last year, there was no real ceremony; we just organized a barbecue and let people know about it, and 145 people showed up. We weren't suprised this year."

The event was held to observe Vietnam Veterans Day. In 2017, the The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

The date is significant: According to the vietnamwar50th.com website, it was chosen to be ob- served in perpetuity as March 29, 1973, was the day United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disestablished and also the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam. In addition, on and around this same day

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