Written by Mason Farr, Education and Outreach Manager

Students from Franklinton High School display Welcome Home Signs in 2024.

More than nine million men and women served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War era from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, with more than 58,000 losing their lives during the conflict. On March 29, 1973, the last American combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last Prisoners of War (POWs) retuned to the United States after being held captive in North Vietnam. All were called to serve, none chose where they were stationed, and unfortunately many were seen in the same way by a country that could not separate the war from the warrior. Each person who served during this period earned and rightly deserves our profound thanks.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons many Veterans of the Vietnam War era did not receive a positive welcome home by their fellow citizens. In 2012, to begin to atone for the treatment of so many Vietnam Veterans, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating March 29 as the official day of recognition for those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. Then in 2017, President Trump signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. A primary objective of this day is to thank and honor Veterans of the Vietnam War era for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these Veterans.

At the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM), our mission is to honor all Veterans, elevate their stories, and amplify the power of service for everyone, everywhere. As we prepare for National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we are excited to share an opportunity for educators to support this mission through two specific acts of service that can be applied toward Community Service Seals and community service hours for your students.

Creating Welcome Home Signs for the Ceremony at the NVMM on March 28, 2026

For the past several years, our Education Team has worked with educators from Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools at Jefferson Elementary and Gahanna-Lincoln High School as well as Franklinton High School to provide the opportunity for their students to create welcome home signs and posters that are displayed in the museum during the Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony and we are pleased to offer this opportunity to more schools this year. This is a great way for students to better understand the experiences of those Veterans who served in the Vietnam War era, and to take action to honor those individuals through service projects.

For those interested in participating, here are some additional details about the project:

The goal is to engage the community and show support to Vietnam War Veterans.
There is no required size for the poster—it could be an 8.5” x 11” piece of construction paper, or as large as a 22” x 28” standard poster board. The posters will be displayed around the museum for the Vietnam War Veterans who attend the ceremony on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

As far as what to include on a poster – everyone’s response to war, especially the Vietnam War, is varied. We suggest letting the words and designs speak for themselves without embellishment. Phrases such as Welcome Home, Thank You for Your Service, We Value Our Veterans, You Are Worthy of Praise, Thank You for Protecting Our Democracy, Thanks for Your Sacrifice, etc. are wonderful places to start. We want to let these individuals know that their community cares about their service.

Signs created by 2nd graders from Jefferson Elementary in Gahanna, OH.

Students who create signs are encouraged to attend the ceremony, during which time they can hold up their signs as the Veterans enter the museum and as part of a recognition procession. If the students cannot attend the ceremony, they may consider connecting with local VFWs or other organizations to see how they can support Vietnam War Veterans in their community. Students can also drop the signs off at the museum ahead of time, and we’ll display them in the Public Service and Citizenship Gallery in the week leading up to the ceremony.

Students from Gahanna-Lincoln High School holding their signs up during the Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony in 2025.

Recording a Conversation with a Vietnam War Veteran

Another meaningful way students can honor Vietnam War Veterans is by recording a conversation with a Veteran using the NVMM Story Collection. This digital platform allows students to safely and respectfully record, preserve, and share first-person stories of military service. Using their preferred recording device (i.e. phone, tablet, computer), students can interview a Vietnam War Veteran, such as a family member, neighbor, or community member, and capture their reflections on service, homecoming, and life after the war. Students can upload their recordings and associated details of the conversation here: Upload Your Story

These recorded conversations become part of a growing archive that ensures Veterans’ voices are not lost to time and helps future generations better understand the human impact of the Vietnam War. By listening, asking thoughtful questions, and preserving these stories, students actively participate in NVMM’s mission to elevate Veteran voices and amplify the power of service.

We invite you to listen, reflect, and gain a deeper understanding of this time in history through the words of the men and women who lived it by listening to our growing collection Veteran voices here: Playlist: Vietnam War Era Veterans

To learn more about these opportunities or to schedule a field trip, contact the NVMM’s Education Team at education@nationalvmm.org.