SVI Alpine Vietnam Veterans to be Honored March 28 in Dubois

DUBOIS—Veterans, families, and community members are invited to gather March 28 for a full-day program honoring Vietnam veterans and welcoming them home with gratitude.

With more than 600,000 Vietnam veterans still living nationwide—most now in their 70s or older—organizers emphasize the urgency of honoring them now.

“Many Vietnam veterans did not receive the welcome home or recognition afforded to other generations of veterans,” says Dan Starks, NMMV Founder and Chairman. “This commemoration is an opportunity for Wyoming communities to come together, express gratitude, and ensure their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.”

“In Wyoming, we don’t just teach history; we honor the men and women who lived it,” says Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. “This collaboration speaks to our mission to develop citizenship by ensuring the next generation of Wyomingites understands that freedom isn’t free, and it’s our duty to keep the legacy of our veterans alive in every classroom.”

Event Schedule
10 a.m.—Tour
Guided tour of the museum’s Vietnam War Gallery.
12 p.m.—Blackhawk Helicopter Arrival
A Blackhawk helicopter piloted by the Wyoming Army National Guard will deliver Gov. Mark Gordon; the Adjutant General, Wyoming Military Department, Major General Gregory Porter; and leaders of the Wyoming Veterans Commission.
1 p.m.—Wyoming Veterans Welcome Home Day Ceremony Emceed by Wyoming Veterans Commission Commissioner Ken Persson, the ceremony will feature remarks from state leaders and special recognition of several Wyoming veterans.

“Victory on the Battlefield and in Peace,” a short educational video developed in collaboration with the museum and the WDE, provides a concise historical overview of Vietnam from French colonization through the Vietnam War and its lasting impact.

A community first look screening of the new Wyoming PBS documentary, “Home from the Vietnam War” follows.

“It is an honor for Wyoming PBS to share this film at the world-renowned National Museum of Military Vehicles,” says Joanna Kail, CEO of Wyoming PBS. “‘Home from the Vietnam War’ reminds us why our station exists: to tell Wyoming’s stories with honesty, care, and respect. This is a deeply personal story from one of our own, Lt. Lee Alley, and we are humbled to help bring it home to our community.”

The documentary features Wyoming Vietnam veteran Lt. (Ret.) Lee Alley and refugee John Nguyen. Lt. Alley, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart and recommended for the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the 1967 Battle of Firebase Cudgel, reflects on combat, returning home, and his 2025 return to Vietnam, where he revisits the battlefield and meets former adversaries.

A panel discussion and Q&A will follow with Lt. Alley, his wife Ellen, Nguyen, director Mat Hames, and Kail as moderator.

Funding for “Home from the Vietnam War” was provided in part by the museum, the Wyoming Public Television Production Endowment, Rita Meyer, the Wyoming Veterans Commission, and the Marna M. Kuehne Foundation.

Community members are encouraged to attend and show their support. For those unable to participate in Dubois, organizers urge individuals to attend a National Vietnam Veterans Day event in their local community or to honor Vietnam veterans in another meaningful way.

Vietnam Veterans to be Honored March 28 in Dubois

By SVI Staff

March 3, 2026