Garrison Commander Col. Chad Mixon and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Scott presented lapel pins to Vietnam Veterans in a ceremony hosted by the North Post Exchange March 28, the day before National Vietnam Veterans Day is celebrated in communities across the country.
“It means somebody recognizes us, we were there, we did serve,” said retired Master Sgt. Carl Day, 83, who attended the ceremony. “Back in the day, we came home and people spit on us.”
It was a vastly different reception in the 1960s and 70s than what many Veterans today receive when they rotate back stateside after a combat tour, he said.
Day retired after 27 years in the Army, serving a total of 5 years in Vietnam.
“My first trip over there, I was a straight leg infantryman,” Day recalled, adding that he served the rest of his career as a supply sergeant. He retired in 1986 and now lives in Anderson Creek, N.C.
Unlike many other Veterans from the local area who attended the ceremony, Day was never assigned to Fort Bragg. He chose this area after retirement partly because of the access to military health care and local Veterans Administration facilities.
“I didn’t initially go to the VA,” Day said. It wasn’t until a cancer diagnosis from a civilian doctor convinced Day to seek out VA services.
Reluctance to seek assistance is not uncommon for Veterans, said Tridell Winder, who works in Fort Bragg’s Veterans Benefits Office located in the Soldier Support Center on Normandy Drive. Her office addresses this through outreach at events like the pinning ceremony, where she provided information on resources available as she answered questions from Veterans and family members.
“Our primary focus is pre-discharge as Soldiers are transitioning out of service,” Winder said. “But we help everybody that comes into the office.”
For Soldiers leaving service, assistance usually involves helping them file claims, appeals or re-evaluations. They also help family members apply for death benefits.
For outreach events like the pinning ceremony, Winder said she provides information on presumptive conditions associated with service in Vietnam, such as Agent Orange, and the PACT Act.
In addition to recognition and gratitude for their service, Veterans at the ceremony also received an AAFES gift bag, gift card, and a gift certificate for the North Post Food Court.
“The ceremony and pin presentation aims to thank and honor the 6.6 million living Veterans and their families,” said Dawn Holland, the North Post AAFES Main Store Manager, who hosted the event.
The U.S.A. Vietnam War Commemoration was authorized by Congress and launched in 2012 to honor the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam on March 29, 1973. By Presidential proclamation, the Commemoration continues through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025.
“Today’s ceremony is a ‘thank you’ to our Veterans and their families,” said Mixon during the event. “This is the last year we’ll have the ceremony … we’re honored to be part of this [Commemoration], which has given out over 3 million pins.”
Vietnam era Veterans who served at any time during the period from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive a lapel pin. Those who have not been able to attend a ceremony in person, can request one be mailed to them by visiting www.army.mil/vietnamwar/ for information.

(Photo: Fort Bragg Garrison Commander Col. Chad Mixon (left) and Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Scott (center) thank retired Sgt.1st Class Jimmy Kirby for his service during the Vietnam Veterans Pin Ceremony on March 28. Photo by April Olsen, Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs)