March 29 was National Vietnam Veteran's Day and across the country, organizations held ceremonies honoring the veterans.
At Fort Riley, the Commissary had cake and coffee for shoppers and the Army & Air Force Exchange Service celebrated the day with a pinning ceremony.
Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew T. Bristow II, garrison senior noncommissioned officer, spoke to attendees about the reason for the event.
"Today, we take a moment to thank and honor our Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation," he said.
He talked about the more than 9 million men and women who served from 1955 to 1975 and the more than 58,000 who gave the ultimate sacrifice and are honored on the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
"Some of you here today may have fellow Soldiers, friends or family who made that ultimate sacrifice and whose name is engraved on that wall," he said.
"Soldiers learn the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage during basic training and they must live them every day in everything they do," he said. "Those we honor today certainly did that and we are right to remember and honor them on this day."
At the end of the ceremony Fort Riley representatives presented commemoration pins and certificates before serving cake.
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