KENTWOOD, Mich. — Friday marked the 51st anniversary of the last U.S. combat troops leaving Vietnam. That's why across the country, National Vietnam Veterans Day was observed.
Hero's Corner and Shero's Corner hosted a lunch and dinner to mark the occasion. The organization, located at the corner of 48th Street and Eastern Avenue SE welcomed in veterans to honor their service. Vietnam veterans like Thornell Billingslea and Denny Gillem.
"This is so unbelievably awesome. Taking care of recognizing hate care of veterans is so important to me, that I can't imagine not doing it," said Gillem, who graduated from West Point in 1964 before going on to serve in Vietnam.
"Having is a part of our culture, that we honor people who truly deserve honor, sincerely and honestly, most veterans appreciate that."
More than 400,000 service men and women from Michigan served during the Vietnam War. More than 2,600 lost their lives in the process. Those in attendance on Friday night say it's important to continue honoring all of those service members.
"Some sacrificed their lives. Some of us came home wounded, either physically or mentally. Some both. Why would we forget that? That's the reason we have a free country. We can't forget any of that. That's why this is important," said Billinslea who served in the 173rd Airborne Brigade and was wounded in action.
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