Local VFW Post to Hold Vietnam Remembrance Service
Katy Texas News
Posted January 14, 2011
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 will host a Vietnam Remembrance Service on Sunday, January 30 in conjunction with the Houston Vietnamese Veterans Association at the VFW Hall on George Bush Drive in Katy.
The service has been designed to foster an appreciation of the past, to serve as a means to educate our community, and to commemorate this period of time by acknowledging the heroism and courage of all of those that fought for freedom and democracy in South Vietnam to include both our American comrades in arms as well as those members of the South Vietnamese military community. The VFW will pay tribute to the sacrifice of all, and re-affirm a bond of mutual respect that exists between the American military and the South Vietnamese military. The date coincides with the 38th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, which was signed on January 27, 1973.
The commemoration of this Vietnam War remembrance promises to be an informative event. The opening ceremony which will encompass an introduction and welcoming remarks will begin promptly at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 30. The opening remarks will be followed by a 20-minute video showing the chronology of events from the beginning to the end of the Vietnam War. A question and answer session, with a moderator, will permit students as well as members of the community to ask questions to a joint panel and U.S. and Vietnamese members.
Master of Ceremonies VFW member George Rissky will introduce American and Vietnamese guest speakers. They will talk about their recollections of this period of time. The presentations will include a depiction of military life in Saigon before the 1968 TET offensive, the treatment of the American service personnel upon their return home and time with the American Rivererene service, among others.
Immediately following the closing remarks, all will be invited to join the VFW Honor Guard at the Flag Pole area on the corner of George Bush Drive and Avenue D for a wreath laying ceremony, plaque presentations and the firing of the 21 gun salute to honor fallen comrades. At the conclusion, all will be invited to re-gather at the Post Hall for refreshments, fellowship and remembrance.
The entire Sunday afternoon remembrance ceremony is open to the public. For more information contact Colonel (Ret) Mike Mastrangelo, Commander, of VFW Post 9182 at 281-391-8387 or Senior Vice Commander Dave Brasell at 713-725-3938.
VFW meetings are held at the VFW Hall at 6206 George Bush Drive in Old Town Katy on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. preceded by a covered dish dinner at 6:15 p.m. Please mention you found this on www.KatyMagazine.com.
