The Governor signed the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day bill Sept. 29, 2009. California is the first state to honor Vietnam veterans on March 30.

Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 391 is having a parade of Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans in Sonora on March 28, at 1 p.m. They have secured Jon Cavaiani Medal of Honor recipient and former POW from Vietnam and VVA-391 member, as the grand marshal. Other plans include having at least one active-duty Color Guard as well as VVA-391’s Color Guard lead the parade. “Welcome Home” teeshirts have been designed and will be sold to help pay for the parade which will cost about $5,000. To raise funds for the parade, they offer two levels of sponsorships. The first is $100 with the sponsor’s name featured in the monthly newsletter, “Guerillas in the Mist.” Next is a $200 sponsorship which will include a banner that states “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans” and will have the sponsor’s name.

A WHVVD poster has begn designed and will be distributed throughout California and across the nation to VVA chapters. It will be on the front cover of the Zephyr, the VVA California State Council newspaper. They plan on inviting Vietnam and Vietnamera veterans from Stockton, Modesto, Oakdale, Ione, and other cities within one-hour of Sonora.

Both the Sonora City Council and board of supervisors signed proclamations for WHVVD. They invite others to do the same. Sonora is the second city in California to do so and the county is the first to do so. Those wishing to support the veterans can go to www.VietnamVeterans391.com and print out a sponsor form.

George Eldridge