On March 27, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a bill recognizing Vietnam Veterans Day as March 29.

Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, authored the House version of the bill and Sen. Dan Skogen, D-Hewitt, authored the Senate version of the bill.

In a press release, Howes said he crafted the bill because the U.S. military veterans who served Vietnam were not given their due recognition upon their return home. “It’s been 35 years since the United States withdrew its final troops from Vietnam and this is a way Minnesotans can finally memorialize and express gratitude for Vietnam vets,” Howes stated.

Howes’ press release notes that, “March 29, 1973 marks the day the last 2,500 troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam, ending 11 years of military involvement in what remains the longest war in U.S. history. More than 58,000 Americans died serving in Vietnam. The Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. lists the names of 1,072 Minnesotans who died in service.”