City of Menifee to Host Fourth Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration

The City of Menifee invites the community to celebrate our local Vietnam Veterans and their families during the 4^th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration on Friday, March 28, starting at 10 a.m. at Paloma Valley High School (31375 Bradley Rd.).

The event will start with a welcome and reception, including continental breakfast and coffee, and the formal ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a photo and artifact exhibit, resource booths for military veterans, and giveaway items for Vietnam Veterans in attendance.

The keynote speaker for this year's celebration will be Rod "Doc" Fink, who was a Fleet Marine Force Nacy Corpsman attached to the 1st Battalion 9th Marines in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. His battalion was involved in major operations and battles along the DMZ including Con Thien, Gio Linh, The Rockpile, and the 77-day Siege of Khe Sanh. After Vietnam, he struggled with PTSD and in 2008 nearly died from cancer caused by Agent Orange. He is currently involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Temecula and the Marine Corps League in Wildomar. Doc Fink is also on the board of directors of the First Battalion Ninth Marines Association, currently serving as their historian, collecting the stories of the Marines and Corpsmen of his battalion known as "The Walking Dead."

"We are honored and privileged to have so many Vietnam Veterans in our community and this event allows us to give them the proper welcome home many did not receive when they returned from their tour of duty," said Councilmember Dean Deines. "Our City will never forget their sacrifice and their service to our country."

If you are a Vietnam Veteran and would like to participate in the event, or for more information, please contact the Community Services Department by emailing veterans@cityofmenifee.us or calling (951) 723-3880. Residents are also encouraged to send in service photos of Vietnam Veterans by email to veterans@cityofmenifee.us.