On Sunday, March 29, 2026, the West Hawaiʻi Veterans Cemetery will be open to visitors from 9:00am to 3:00pm, in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. 

Visitors may pay their respects at the Vietnam War Memorial that was dedicated on March 29, 2023. 

Objects and artifacts that were left at The Wall That Heals when it was displayed in Hilo in January 2024 will be displayed, along with photos of the men from Hawaiʻi Island who were killed in Vietnam. Family members and friends of those who made the greatest sacrifice are invited to bring photos and memorabilia to share if they wish.

Volunteer docents will be available throughout the day to assist visitors in locating the final resting places of their friends and family members. 

Vietnam War 50^th Commemoration lapel pins and ribbon lei will be offered to veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975, regardless of the location of their service.  

This event is supported by the volunteers of the West Hawaiʻi Veterans Cemetery Development and Expansion Association, a 501(c)(3) organization.

March 29 is a fitting choice for a day honoring Vietnam veterans. It was chosen to be observed 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 Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that today there are more than 7 million U.S. Vietnam veterans living in America and abroad, along with 10 million families of those who served during this timeframe.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designated every 29 March as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. This special day joins six other military-centric annual observances codified in Title 4 of the United States Code §6, among them Memorial Day, Independence

Day and Veterans Day.

Reference: Vietnam 50^th Commemoration: https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/national_vietnam_war_veterans_day/