Veterans of Foreign Wars Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Tim Peters formally handed over a collection of Vietnam War artifacts to representatives of Vietnam in a July ceremony hosted at the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, D.C.
“Returning artifacts symbolizes a powerful gesture of reconciliation, promoting healing for both American and Vietnamese veterans and families affected by the war,” said Peters in a statement.
The VFW called the presentation a symbolic act of reconciliation and commitment to the ongoing mission of full wartime accounting.
The artifacts – donated by American veterans and families – represent a shared history of sacrifice and serve as a gesture of goodwill that supports continued efforts to account for those who remain missing from the Vietnam War era. They included a helmet, canteens, a journal, certificates and identification cards.
The ceremony was hosted by His Excellency Nguyen Quoc Dung, Vietnam's Ambassador to the United States. Vietnamese Defense Attaché Senior Col. Vu Quoc Ang accepted the artifacts on behalf of the Vietnamese government.
“These artifacts may seem small, but they mean a lot to the families who have lost loved ones,” said Nguyen.
In addition to the officers from the Vietnamese Defense Attache Office, the event was attended by Director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Kelly McKeague and his staff,
“Vietnam veterans, especially those in the VFW, carry a unique credibility and moral authority,” said Peters. “Their participation humanizes the past and fosters understanding between the two nations.”
The ceremony marked the latest in a series of VFW efforts to engage with Vietnam on matters of shared historical responsibility and remembrance.
“The VFW will continue to promote this effort among our members – especially those who served in Vietnam, Laos and other areas – to continue to demonstrate our commitment to the fullest possible accounting of those who died in battle,” said Peters.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.