National Vietnam War Veterans Day: Memorial tells story of Houstonians who served

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Vietnam War veterans received special recognition during the National Vietnam War Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony at Club Creek Basin Park in southwest Houston on Monday.

The occasion commemorated National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is designated for March 29. It honors the nearly 3 million men and women who served in the war, many of who never heard, "Welcome home."

The date is significant because it's when the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, disbanded, the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam, and the final prisoners of war were released.

RELATED: Remains of WWII Navigator identified and returned to Beaumont

The site of Monday's ceremony was intentional.

Veterans, law enforcement, and community members gathered near the Houston Vietnam Veterans Memorial inside the park, located on Club Creek Drive, near U.S. 59 and Bissonnet.

Houston City Council Member Edward Pollard shared that the memorial's development was part of a promise and commitment to his father, a U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran.

The memorial sits inside Pollard's District J.

"These veterans answered the call to serve during a challenging time in our nation's history, and their courage, sacrifice, and resilience deserve our lasting recognition," Pollard wrote ahead of the event.

The memorial stands proud now inside the park and bears the names of local Vietnam veterans.

"We have many veterans from the greater Houston area who never got the proper welcome home after the war, so today we want to ensure that they feel the love," Pollard told ABC13. "They understand that we appreciate their sacrifices, their service."

The day was one of celebration and commemoration.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Nick Miller played Taps, a bugle call signifying lights out. Its notes are also used as a moment of reflection and respect for those who have served and sacrificed.

Skyler Derrington, a survivor of the July 4, 2025, floods at Camp Mystic in the Texas Hill Country, opened with the "Star-Spangled Banner" and closed with "Amazing Grace," the audience joining with her near the song's end.

Derrington earned national recognition after she rewrote the lyrics to "Hallelujah" in tribute to her friends at the camp and their community.

SEE ALSO: A century of courage and service: Honoring World War II Veteran David Loredo

Keynote speakers included Vietnam War veteran Judy Harwell and survivor of the war Darrien Bui, who shared how he and his family fled Vietnam by boat during the fall of Saigon.

Bui spent two years in a refugee camp in Japan before immigrating to the United States and settling in Oakland, California, in 1980.

He later moved to Houston and has since called it home for decades.

"My story is not just about struggle, it's about gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunities this country has given me. Gratitude for those who have made it possible," Bui said.

Harwell, meanwhile, served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines from 1971 to 1973.

She shared how she was among the more than 11,000 women who served during the Vietnam War, working closely with impacted families.

She also has a special connection to Pollard as his elementary school principal.

Harwell left the crowd with a reminder that education about our history should continue to be told to the next generations.

"Pretty soon they're going to be saying, 'Vietnam War? What was that?' So, we must keep these things going," Harwell said.

"This memorial behind me gives a Houston story," Pollard added. "It's an incredible story of those who served from this area, and I encourage everyone to come to Club Creek Park, check out the memorial, learn about the Vietnam War and how it has impacted not only those who are here in Houston, but all over the country."

In 2012, President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation establishing March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day.

President Donald Trump followed that by signing the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act into law in 2017 to officially designate the date and add it as a day for flying the American flag.

SEE ALSO: Texas Women Veterans Day honors past, present, and future of servicewomen