Terry McGuire, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs human resources employee relations specialist, reads the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 Friday at the Veterans Affairs clinic, located at 608 W. Third St. The act recognizes that March 29 is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

March 29, 1973, is a date all Vietnam veterans recognize.

The reason March 29 is memorable is because it was the day U.S. combat troops departed the Republic of Vietnam and the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, which was a joint-service command of the United States Department of Defense, was disbanded.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state Division of Veterans Affairs and the Jamestown Veterans Affairs Clinic, located at 608 W. Third St., held a Vietnam War Veterans Day recognition ceremony. Terry McGuire, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs human resources employee relations specialist, read the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 that was signed by President Donald Trump. McGuire said more than nine million American military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam War.

“We want to recognize you,” McGuire said to a room full of Vietnam veterans. “We want to thank you who served in the air, on the water and on land.”

Mark Amico, state Division of Veterans Affairs, read a proclamation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo during the ceremony. Both McGuire and Amico handed out proclamations and commemorative Vietnam lapel pins to the veterans who attended.

Many veterans are still unaware of benefits they have earned, so information about Veterans Affairs health care enrollment and other veterans benefits to include disability claims, educational opportunities and national cemeteries were available at the clinic.

On March 29, 2012, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. The proclamation called upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities that commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the Vietnam War.

On December 26, 2016, the Vietnam Veterans Day Coalition of States Council presented a letter to President-elect Donald Trump and Congressional leadership that outlined the history and timeline of cause to establish March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day and requested that it be one of the first legislation passed and signed into law during the 115 Congress.

On March 28, 2017, Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. The act officially recognized March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.