Over the past few months the branch has been involved in the distribution of the Vietnam Era Veteran Lapel Pin Commemoration Program.  According to the organization, “the Commemoration is providing Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins to Commemorative Partners for presentations to U.S. military veterans, living at home or abroad, who served during the Vietnam War period as a lasting memento of the Nation’s thanks.  Living U.S. veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive one lapel pin.  We make no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period.  All were called to serve, none could self-determine where they were stationed, and all were seen in the same way by a country that could not separate the war from the warrior, as we do today.”

Yesterday Comrade Siefken Krieger – himself an awardee of one of these pins –  presented James Essex with a pin.

The video of the full presentation is below.

In addition to the Vietnam Era Veteran Lapel Pin, as Comrade Essex’s request the branch was able to secure each of the Royal Canadian Legion commemorative medals that his ~30 years of membership in the branch made him eligible for.  These included the 75th Anniversity of the Royal Canadian Legion Medal, the 90th Anniversary of teh Royal Canadian Legion Medal, and the Canada 150 Commemorative Medal.  Comrade Barbour, our branch president, presented these medals to Comrade Essex.