Riverside, CA – 3/21/14 – March Field Air Museum has sponsored its own annual celebration since the legislation became official. This year will mark the fifth Welcome Home Vietnam Vets Day with a program on Saturday March 29th that begins at 11am.
On September 25, 2009 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, accompanied by General Assembly member Paul Cook and Welcome Home Vietnam Vets Day (WHVVDF) founder Jose Ramos, appeared at Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Base to sign AB717 which establishes a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in California every March 30.
Museum Director Patricia Korzec states that “this is a perfect opportunity for all of us to pay tribute to these once forgotten soldiers and give them the welcome home they deserved years ago. It’s an important day also for our youth who can learn more about the war and listen to the first hand experiences of the men and women who lived it.”
The museum will honor Vietnam Vets with presentations from all branches of service, special exhibits and an open microphone forum. Guest speaker is Dick Haley who flew over 400 combat missions as a Crew Chief on a UH-34 in Vietnam. Mr. Haley is currently a City of Corona council member.
Admission for Vietnam Vets and their immediate families is free for the day and a special lunch for these vets will be hosted by Marion Ashley, 5th District Supervisor, County of Riverside. Lunch will begin immediately following the program.
The museum gift store will be featuring the hand made jewelry of Vietnam Vet Bruce Smith who crafts beaded necklaces and bracelets for vets.
Regular Museum admission is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 5 to 11. Membership levels vary and may be accessed through the museum’s website at www.marchfield.org.
March Field Air Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday 9-4pm
22550 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside CA 92518. For more information contact the main desk at 951/902-5949or visit the website at www.marchfield.org.
Contributed content by, Patricia Korzec, Executive Director March Field Air Museum
