South Dakota Vietnam/ERA Veterans Welcome Home - May 20,2010

On September 15 and 16, 2006, the State of South Dakota sponsored a massive welcome home for South Dakota Vietnam Era Veterans. Nashville performers Big and Rich, sang the award winning song "8th of November" before a crowd of over 40,000 people in Pierre, South Dakota. More than 10,000 South Dakota Vietnam and Vietnam Era veterans attended the two day festivities which included a Welcome Home parade, the "Moving Wall", Huey Helicopter rides, a muscle car show, the Agent Orange Quilt of Tears, and dedication of a 6' foot bronze statue of a Vietnam combat soldier, created by South Dakota artists Sherri Treeby and Lee Leuning. Adrian Cronauer (Good Morning Vietnam) served as the Master of Ceremonies for this epic event. Approximately 27,000 South Dakota men and women served their country during the Vietnam War and 227 South Dakotans were killed in Vietnam.

South Dakota is among only a handful of states who have sponsored an "official" welcome home for Vietnam Era Veterans.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Vietnam
• Big and Rich
• Welcome Home
• Veterans

[pcunruh]

When Big & Rich took a break in the middle of their 2006 tour to perform the 8th of November at the SD Vietnam Era Veterans memorial dedication... well, I became a fan for life. I remember very clearly watching this moment on SDPTV. Thank you for documenting this moment in history and sharing it with everyone here!