Thirty-five years after the withdrawal of American soldiers from Vietnam, Minnesota officially recognizes March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law last week a bill designating March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. The date was chosen because it commemorates the withdrawal of ground troops from the Asian country on March 29, 1973.

Bill sponsor Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, said the day was designed to raise awareness of the “cost of freedom” and welcome veterans home officially after an unsupportive American public offered little on their initial return.

“This is one small thing we can do for the men and women who served in Vietnam,” Howes said.

Litchfield VFW Post 2818 Commander and Vietnam veteran Gary Smith anticipated the recognition to affect veterans differently, especially those who struggled with coping upon returning from Vietnam.

“Nobody wants to go to war, but it’s sure nice to recognize people when they come home from serving their country,” Smith said.

Michael Thomas, who served five months in Vietnam in 1970 before being injured, said it seems a little late but still welcomed.

“It’s a nice gesture. (It’s) too bad somebody didn’t think about it 30 years ago,” he said.

Roughly 147,000 Minnesotans served in Vietnam; 1,072 were killed in action.

Read more reaction in the April 3 print edition.