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​Vietnam War Veterans Day

Welcome to Flag Steward's
Be a Stud Citizen - Reminders from Our Flag

for Monday, March 29, 2021​
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[ Pic of OH-6A LOH (Light Observational Helicopter) of C Troop, 3/17 Cavalry, Vietnam 1969-70, by Joe Kline given to scout helicopter pilot "Charlie Horse 16" (aka US Army retired LTC Ed Sweeney Jr.) now proudly hanging in office at Flag Steward HQ ] 
[ 3 Ways for You & Students to Experience today's 'Be a Stud Citizen' Message: ]
[ 1) KEEP SCROLLING down this page and read it to yourself or perform it aloud for your school / classroom. If reading the page to a classroom, skip any text in [ brackets ].
2) LISTEN to the <5 minutes PODCAST as you or your classroom follow along viewing the page on a device or classroom projection
or, 3) WATCH the <5 minutes VIDEO of today's Reminders from Our Flag, by yourself or with your classrooom on a projector/flatscreen ]
[ Note: Flag Steward's 'Be a Stud Citizen' podcasts are available on nearly all podcast platforms for you to listen and enjoy however you prefer. ]
[ Note: If you can't access or play videos from YouTube in your school, then GO / CLICK HERE to watch today's stories from Our Flag on Loom. ]
Where is Our Flag, the U.S. Flag, at half-staff today?
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[ CLICK HERE to see Half-Staff alert details, including pics, of Honorees ]
Today's Historical Moment from Our Flag
... honors Vietnam War Veterans Day ...
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[ Vietnam War Vet, US Army retired LTC Ed Sweeney Jr. at Vietnam Memorial in Oct. 2008 with 3 grandkids (last visit before he died in Dec. 2008 of Vietnam War health-related illness) = pic by S. Sweeney ]

On this date, March 29, in 1973, the last U.S. troops left Vietnam - ending a long presence and war campaign to keep South Vietnam free of North Vietnam communist rule.  We weren't successful, for many debatable political decisions and societal pressures, at keeping the communists from taking over South Vietnam.  But, the unpopularity of the war did not justify the poor treatment of Vietnam War Veterans when they returned home to America. These Vets were not shown the proper respect and appreciation they deserved upon returning to the United States back in the 60s and 70s.  We can't fix that wrong 50 years later, but we can at least show them the love they deserve for serving our country faithfully and admirably.  So, today, and frankly whenever you meet a Vietnam War Veteran, make sure you say, "Welcome Home" to he/she.
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[ US Army soldiers search village for Viet Cong (the communist military forces) during Vietnam War = public domain image ]

In 2017, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act became law and designated March 29th of every year as "National Vietnam War Veterans Day" - an opportunity to honor and remember the 2.7 million military personnel who had served in the Vietnam War and more than 58,300 who died there.
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[ Vietnam War Women's Memorial in Washington, DC = free / public domain license via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/vietnam-s-women-s-memorial-232531/) ]

Since this is Women's History Month, it's only proper to highlight American womens' contributions during the Vietnam War.  The statue above, the Vietnam War Women's Memorial was installed in 1993.  It pays tribute to and reminds us all of the important support roles, as nurses, communication handlers, air traffic controllers, and more, that women performed during the Vietnam War.  By proving their capabilities during the Vietnam War, the role of women in the military forces beyond "support" jobs has greatly expanded since then - to include combat, fighting jobs in today's military.
​​Today's Insightful Quote from Our Flag
... stirs up memories of the different public opinion on the Vietnam War ...


"Although both popular imagination and academic research on the Vietnam War continue to flourish,
there is no consensus in sight.
Only the U.S. Civil War rivals the power of the Vietnam War
 to divide and inflame generations upon generations of Americans."


​- Andreas Daum
(American-German historian)

[public domain image of President Kennedy briefing on Vietnam War in March of 1961]
Today's Fun from Our Flag
... recalls a one-liner joke from comedian Bob Hope, who like he did during WWII, performed many morale-boosting USO shows in Vietnam for America's troops ...

"When I was born, the doctor said to my mother: '
'Congratulations. You have an eight-pound ham.'"


(Note: For you kids out there who don't know this old reference / slang term.  A"ham" is someone who is showoff, jokester, hotshot - wants to be the center of attention.  And, Bob Hope, 'Entertainer of the Century,' fit that title​.)

-Bob Hope
And, now it's time to ...
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Students across America, at school or at home, inspired by Vietnam Veterans who fought to secure freedom for the people of South Vietnam, please unite and recite the Pledge.
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​​Thanks for participating in today's U.S. Flag tribute.
This is Sean Sweeney, a fellow Flag Steward, signing-off:

Go out and 'be a stud citizen' today
Keep America Beautiful, and remember,
In God We Trust
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​In God We Trust
(Official motto of the United States of America)
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FINALLY! - TEXT (National & State) Half-Staff Alerts:

CLICK HERE to sign-up for National and State-targeted Half-Staff Flag Alert TEXT Notifications
(Many prefer this text alert service because within the Flag Steward app we CANNOT effectively deliver state-targeted notifications)

​This is a FREE service powered by Flag Steward's nonprofit
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​Flag Steward (formerly known as Beacon of Honor and originally incorporated as GivingVu.org, Inc. in 2013) is a nonpartisan, student-inspired, Veteran-led 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  Tax ID# 46-2457373
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