Concord, NC-- The war has long since been over, but Vietnam Veterans never got the welcoming Americcan Troops do today.
North Carolina is about to change that for its Vietnam Veterans.
Thursday, USO of North Carolina and officials with the Charlotte Motor Speedway announced an inaugural homecoming celebration to be held next year.
Four decades in the making, the homecoming celebration for North Carolina's Vietnam Veterans is scheduled for March 31, 2012. It is estimated that more than 216,000, from NC served in Vietnam and 1,600 were killed in action.
Ret Lt. Gen. Tom Waskow had this to say about the sometimes forgotten veterans, "It was these Sergeant Majors, these Colonels and these Captains who trained us to have the military that we have today."
The event will be used to connect veterans of all wars and their families with medical care and other support services.
To learn more history about the war click on Vietnam.