Virginia War Memorial to honor Vietnam veterans at 2027 reunion event

The Virginia War Memorial Foundation will host a Vietnam War-focused Salute to Service reunion on April 3, 2027, in Richmond, bringing veterans and families together for ceremonies, performances and a traveling exhibit. The event is meant to honor Virginians who served in Vietnam, including those who died there and those still living in the state today.

Why it matters: - The reunion is designed to recognize Virginia’s Vietnam War veterans and the families affected by the conflict. - More than 230,000 Virginians served during the Vietnam War, and 1,490 Virginians were killed. - Nearly 200,000 Vietnam War veterans now live in Virginia.

What happened: - The Virginia War Memorial Foundation announced the 2027 Salute to Service Reunion Celebration for Saturday, April 3, 2027, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - The event will take place at the Virginia War Memorial, 621 S. Belvidere Street, Richmond. - The theme is “Coming Home: The Vietnam War.” - The event is open to Vietnam War veterans, their families and friends.

The details: - The program will include a Shrine of Memory ceremony with a soundscape of the names of Virginia veterans killed in Vietnam. - A memorial wreath-laying will honor those who never returned home. - Author and historian Alex Kershaw will give a presentation. - Military unit rally points will let veterans share stories with ROTC cadets. - Virginia Tech’s Gregory Guard will perform a precision silent rifle drill routine. - The West Point Alumni Glee Club will perform a “Vietnam Medley.” - Vietnam War Huey helicopters will be on display at Virginia Housing, 601 S. Belvidere St. - A traveling exhibit on the Vietnam War era has been created and will appear in Southwest Virginia before moving to Richmond for the event. - The exhibit features stories, artifacts and historical perspective from the Vietnam War period. - Exhibit curator Emilie Raymond will lead a curator’s talk during the reunion. - Registration is now open at the event page. - The event is free for veterans and one family member. - Questions and special requests can be sent to salutetoservice@vawarmemorial.org.

Between the lines: - The Salute to Service program is built as a multi-year effort to reconnect Virginia veterans with people, military units and shared experiences from their service. - Each annual event centers on a different major American military conflict. - The inaugural reunion in March 2026 honored veterans of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. - Upcoming reunions are planned for 2028 around the Global War on Terror and for 2029 around the Cold War and fall of the Berlin Wall. - The choice of a Vietnam theme reflects both the size of the Virginia veteran community and the long shadow the war still casts across families and state memory. - Cmdr. Paul Galanti, USN (Ret.), and his son Jamie Galanti are co-chairing the 2027 event. - Galanti spent seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. - Galanti said the reunion is meant to help veterans reconnect, share stories, honor those who did not receive a homecoming and remember missing service members.

What's next: - The Virginia War Memorial Foundation will continue preparing the April 3 reunion and related exhibits. - Additional event information and registration updates are available through the foundation’s website. - The foundation’s broader Salute to Service series will continue with future conflict-focused reunions in 2028 and 2029.