(WHTM) — A new law makes March 29 Vietnam War Veterans Day in Pennsylvania.
“I remember back in the early 70’s my dad was in the Navy and one day he stopped coming home in his Navy uniform and I was a little kid, I was excited to see dad in his uniform,” Senator Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin/Adams) said.
Mastriano says he asked his dad why he stopped wearing his uniform.
Gov. Shapiro signs law bringing new holiday to Pennsylvania
“And he told me something that really broke my heart even as a young kid, he said ‘Well the base commander issued orders to all the sailors that when they leave the base they had to go back into civilian clothes,’” Mastriano said.
The Vietnam War was unlike any other war. It was the only war where American citizens attacked its own military because they were unhappy.
When Donald Trump was president in 2017, a federal law was passed making March 29 National Vietnam Veterans Day, honoring U.S. military members who served from 1955 to 1975 during the Vietnam War.