Bagley Legion Marks 11th Annual Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Dinner

American Legion Post 489 in Bagley welcomed 154 veterans and their families on March 29 for the 11th annual Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day Dinner, marking National Vietnam War Veterans Day with a free meal, a Quilts of Valor presentation, and a flag-style blanket for every veteran in attendance.

The date carries specific historical weight. On March 29, 1973, the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was disbanded and the last U.S. combat troops departed the Republic of Vietnam. President Obama first proclaimed the date Vietnam Veterans Day in 2012; President Trump made it a permanent national observance when he signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 on March 28 of that year. The act also requires U.S. flags to be flown on March 29.

Kurt Ellefson, the Polk County Veterans Service Officer, served as guest speaker at this year's dinner. The program opened with a presentation of colors by the White Earth Honor Guard and the Bagley American Legion Honor Guard, followed by Ellefson's remarks and a Quilts of Valor presentation. The meal was provided free of charge by the In-County Vietnam Motorcycle Club and prepared by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 489.

Attendance has grown considerably since the dinner's early years. The 2022 gathering, the seventh annual, drew approximately 85 Vietnam veterans. A prior year's dinner brought around 150, with retired Army veteran Ryan Pels of Walker serving as the featured speaker. This year's 154 attendees represent the strongest turnout on record. Bemidji-area Vietnam veteran advocates Mike Lavoi and John Pearce have also addressed the dinner in past years, sharing their experiences to raise awareness.

The numbers behind the event underscore how significant this community is in Beltrami County. Of the county's approximately 2,680 veterans, 986 served during the Vietnam War era, making them the single largest veteran cohort in the county and 1.6 times greater than veterans of any other conflict. Nationally, the day pays tribute to approximately 9 million Americans who served during the Vietnam era and honors the 58,000 names memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The dinner is free and open to all area Vietnam veterans, their families, and guests. American Legion Post 489 is located at 112 Main Ave. N in Bagley.