To recognize National Vietnam War Veterans Day, also known as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, Branford Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12106 is inviting Vietnam veterans to join them for a free breakfast on Thursday, April 4 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Parthenon Diner in Branford.

The VFW wants to thank and welcome its guests to share some table talk about their service and experiences as a Vietnam veteran, if desired, said VFW Post 12106 Senior Vice Commander Edward Masotta.

“When they came back, they didn’t get a good welcome,” said Masotta. “With this breakfast, we just want to have a chance to sit down with them and say, ‘Welcome home.’”

The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day breakfast is a new program for VFW Post 12106 that Masotta said the VFW hopes to continue each year.

As described at the National Conference of State Legislators website (ncsl.org), “Vietnam Veterans Day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 40 years ago.”

Signed into law in 2017, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil. It is also the date President Nixon chose for the first Vietnam Veterans Day in 1974.

Due to holidays taking place around March 29, the VFW event will be held on April 4. The free breakfast, which being hosted by VFW Post 12106, invites the veterans to join them at the Parthenon Diner during the breakfast event from 7:30 to 10 a.m. No registration is necessary. The Parthenon Diner is located at 374 East Main Street in Branford.

“We hope a lot of our Vietnam veterans will hear about this and want to come and join us. The VFW will have a table set up inside, so we’ll be easy find,” said Masotta.