Vietnam War Veterans Day: March 29, 2025

Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, AL., on March 29, 2025. Col John Eidsmoe served as emcee of the ceremony. A color guard posted the colors including the American flag and the Vietnam War Veterans flag, and this was followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. The names of service members from Montgomery, Autauga and Elmore Counties, AL, who lost their lives serving in Vietnam were read. The traditional ceremony of folding the American flag 13 times with each fold symbolizing a different aspect of American history and values was presented. The Missing Man Table, sometimes referred to as the "Fallen Comrade Table," was described and reminded viewers of those fallen, missing, or imprisoned U.S. Military Service Members. Each item on the Missing Man Table represented the emotions and feelings reserved for those who did not come home. The Three Volley Salute was given as a poignant ceremony that conveys deep respect and honor for the deceased, and it symbolizes the ultimate sacrifices made by the individual and is rooted in historical military traditions. The ceremony concluded with the playing of Taps by the bugler, Babs Count, and a benediction given by the emcee. The Vietnam War took the lives of 58,220 U.S. service personnel.