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The program featured two panels and a keynote address by Mark Moyar, William P. Harris Chair of Military History at Hillsdale College.

Vietnam Veterans Monument Dedicated at One of the Nation’s Largest Vietnam War Veterans Day Celebrations

The Nixon Library was the site of the second largest celebration of Vietnam War Veterans Day in the country, only surpassed by the gathering at the National Vietnam War Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on the 50th anniversary of the last combat troops leaving Vietnam on March 29, 1973.

Over 175 Vietnam War Veterans and their families filled the Nixon Library’s East Room to dedicate a new monument in their honor. The Vietnam Veterans Monument depicts a Marine running through the jungles of Vietnam in 1971-72 and represents all who served in the war. Artist Ron Pekar’s design process included several meetings with the Monument Design Committee; to ensure accuracy, Pekar even donned all the gear of a combat Marine of the era.

The Honorable Robert Wilkie, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, delivered keynote remarks at the Monument’s dedication, stating:

“When President Nixon entered the White House there were 600,000 Americans in South Vietnam. One of them was a young Major on his second tour from New Orleans. It was my father. In those times America was in retreat and facing the greatest internal conflict since the Civil War. When Richard Nixon left office my father was at home because one man deeply believed in building a generation of peace. So it is fitting and proper that this magnificent monument is on the grounds of President Nixon’s birthplace.”

Vietnam War Veterans in attendance were presented the Nation’s Official Vietnam Veteran lapel pin by Secretary Wilkie.

Facts about the Vietnam Veterans Monument:

Time Represented: 1971-1972

Equipment: three canteens, backpack, flack jacket, standard trousers, rolled-up long-sleeve shirt, bandoleer with ammunition pouches, mud-covered jungle boots, hand grenades with holders, overthe-shoulder gun belt (suspenders), towel around his neck, two-layered Marine helmet with bug juice, pockets full of other supplies

Rifle: M16 A1 with birdcage tip

Height: 6’2, Weight: 500 lbs

Artist: Ron Pekar, whose well-known pieces include “Traveler” at USC, “The Handoff” at the Rose Bowl and a statue of Dick Kun at Snow Summit in Big Bear.

Design Committee: Jack Brennan, Ed Brundage, Tony Cordero, Dale Dye, Joe Lopez, Phil Millard, William Mimiaga, Chris Nordyke, Frank Orzio

POWs Celebrate 50 Years of Freedom

From May 23 through 25, the Nixon Library was the site of the nation’s official 50th anniversary celebration of the homecoming of America’s POWs from Vietnam.

Nearly 150 former POWs and their families arrived in Yorba Linda in a patriotic parade of classic cars, with escorts from the California Highway Patrol, Orange County Sheriff ’s Department and the Orange County Fire Authority. More than 1,000 Southern California neighbors —including hundreds of students— greeted them along the route.

Trumpeters from OC Music & Dance heralded the POWs’ arrival at the Nixon Library, with melodies from the Marine Corps Band and a U.S. Air Force flyover of F-35 jets. Colonel Jack Brennan, decorated veteran of the Vietnam War and former Marine Military Aide to President Nixon, welcomed everyone on behalf of the Nixon Foundation. The POWs and their families were then the first guests to tour CAPTURED: Shot Down in Vietnam, a new special exhibit now on display.

On May 24, the POWs and their guests gathered for a recreation of the White House homecoming celebration dinner 50 years to the day of that historic evening — still the largest dinner in White House history.

Video clips from the 1973 celebration were played throughout the evening while the former POWs and their guests dined on a menu that mirrored that of the original White House dinner.

Former POWs Everett Alvarez and Thomas Hanton welcomed those in the East Room and paid tribute to America’s MIAs. The program included remarks from Dr. Henry Kissinger, Senator Tom Carper, Ross Perot, Jr. and Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien.

Special guests included Tricia Nixon Cox, the eldest daughter of President and Mrs. Nixon, and Edward Cox, both of whom attended the 1973 White House dinner; Melanie Eisenhower, the youngest granddaughter of President and Mrs. Nixon; Governor and Mrs. Pete Wilson; Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to the United States; Medal of Honor recipient Bob Patterson; and Benjamin Watson, Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division.

Just as in 1973, the dinner ended with everyone singing “God Bless America.”

The reunion concluded on May 25 with Resilience, Fortitude and Faith, a special program in which four decorated, former POWs reflected on their harrowing experiences of survival and shared perspectives on the past 50 years of freedom. The audience included leaders in the Southern California Vietnamese-American community as well as many Vietnam veterans.

With grateful thanks to those who made this Vietnam POW Homecoming 50th Anniversary Reunion possible

Airpower Foundation

American Airlines

Gary Sinise Foundation

In-N-Out Burger

Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr. in honor of Ross Perot, Sr.

Ling and Charlie Zhang

Air Warrior Courage Foundation

Mr. Sandy Alderson

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Boeing Company

Boston Red Sox

Benny Yi-Bing Chu

James Vincent Crouch

Ms. Sharon Driscoll

Ron and Alexis Fowler

General Atomics Aerospace Systems

Greyhound Lines

La Jolla MJ Management, LLC

La Playa, LLC

Liberty Military Housing

Lockheed Martin Company

The Drs. Jack and Jennifer London

Charitable Fund

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

Major League Baseball

Mariposa Butterfly Festival

Navy Federal Credit Union

Newport News Shipbuilding –

Huntington Ingalls Industries

Northrop Grumman Corporation

OC Music & Dance

Pratt & Whitney

Robert Irvine Foundation

San Diego Padres

Signature Flight Services

Ms. Brenda Stewart

Sudberry Properties

Transportation Charter Services

USS Midway Museum

United States Automobile Association

United States Marine Corps

Honor Guard

Vanguard Marketing Corporation

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

Worcester Red Sox