MOBILE, Ala. — Vietnam-era veterans will be honored later this month, and they’ll also have a chance to network with one another. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), along with USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, VA Vet Centers and many community partners from the Gulf Coast region will host a Vietnam Veterans Salute on March 31.

The free event will begin with an opening ceremony on the green space at Battleship Park at 11 a.m., immediately following an Honor Ride parade led by Rolling Thunder Alabama Chapter 1 and other motorcyclists. The parade will also feature military vehicles, buses and vans transporting the veterans to the event.

The procession will begin at 10 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile and roll down Government Street, from Michigan Avenue through the Bankhead Tunnel.

VA officials hope residents will form a “pep squad” by turning out in force, both for the parade and the main event. It will provide an opportunity to express respect and appreciation to those who served their country during a tumultuous time in our nation’s history.

“We encourage the community to line that street with balloons, pom-poms, everything (including signs, flags and noisemakers), to cheer these guys and gals on and make them feel at home,” said Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System spokesman Jerron Barnett. “We want there to be a connection between the VA, the veterans, our partners and the community.”

For tips on where to stand along the parade route, email Karen Hudson, pep squad coordinator, at Karen.Hudson@va.gov.

The park festivities will include veteran reunions, resource and family tents, vendors, live music and special presentations by Vietnam veterans.

Barnett said, “We designed this event for a couple of reasons. The main reason is to establish peer support among veterans of both Vietnam and the Vietnam era from across the region. We’ve got five facilities where we serve veterans from Biloxi to Panama City, and we hope to connect them through this event and also establish a connection between the resources of this area.

“We’ve established a pretty good network because a lot of these veterans come to see us for health care at the Mobile clinic, the Pensacola clinic, the Panama City clinic, the Biloxi hospital, the Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola, as well as the Eglin center so we’ve established a connection and network with them. We’re trying to further establish a connection between them and the resources available from the VA and other veteran service organizations.”

There will be a number of guest speakers of interest on hand at Battleship Park, including Thomas Wisnieski, director of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, as well as area veterans.

“A lot of Vietnam veterans from the area are staunch supporters in what we’re trying to get across on the 31^st of March,” Barnett said. “They’ve been with us since day one, and they’re out there drumming up support and getting folks signed up to come to the event. Without the enthusiasm and support the Vietnam veterans in the area have, I don’t know if this would be possible.”

He pointed out that veterans from the time of World War II to the present appreciate the sacrifice made by those who served during the Vietnam era. It was a time when national sentiment was not at all favorable toward those in uniform.

“One of the most encouraging things I’ve seen is that even the veterans of yesteryear recognize there’s an opportunity here to establish what the community (should have done) when they got back. There’s a lot of healing to be done with Vietnam veterans, and we’re seeing that take place.”

Vietnam Veterans who wish to be in the parade must register with Disabled American Veterans. Email DAV at al35cdr@davfrat.org to obtain parade application and instructions. Veterans can also obtain an application by contacting their nearest VA Vet Center: Biloxi Vet Center 228-388-9938, Mobile Vet Center 251-478-5906, Pensacola Vet Center 850-456-5886, Okaloosa County Vet Center 850-651-1000, Bay County Vet Center 850-522-6102.

Battleship Memorial Park is located at 2703 Battleship Parkway (Highway 90/98), just off Interstate 10 (Exits 27 or 30). More information about the park can be found at www.ussalabama.com.

For more information and event updates, visit www.biloxi.va.gov/vietnam.asp.