MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) thanked area veterans of the Vietnam War era for their service to the United States with a recent ceremony at Pillar Rock Grill.

Members of the local DAR chapter (the Karneetsa Chapter) hosted the event, joining thousands of other chapters across America that organized like events. The Daughters of the American Revolution planned the event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

The commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary was set in motion by the U.S. Congress in 2008 and extended by presidential proclamation in 2012, according to a release from the local DAR chapter. It aims to “officially thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War era for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States; and to thank the families of those veterans,” per the release.

The tribute event also serves as a reminder of the sacrifice made by these veterans and their families “so we don’t make the same mistake again of not recognizing veterans who served with valor at the request of our country, no matter the popularity of war,” according to the DAR release. Vietnam War era veterans recognized, both locally and across the country, included any living U.S. veterans who served in active duty in the country’s armed forces at any time between Nov. 1, 1955, and May 15, 1978, no matter the location of service.

The program at Pillar Rock Grill in Moses Lake featured a number of veterans who shared words about their service. Pilots and infantrymen alike concurred that “the quality and ability of their fellow soldiers was one of the things they remembered most,” according to local DAR member Stephanie Massart. Many of them also indicated that the commemoration event was the first time they had been thanked for their service and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to talk about the time they spent enlisted in the U.S. armed forces.

As part of the tribute, each veteran received a certificate of appreciation and a commemorative lapel pin.

For more information on the nationwide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, visit www.vietnamwar50th.com. According to the website, there have been nearly 5,600 commemorative events organized across the country in conjunction with nearly 10,000 partners.

Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a "non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children," per the organization’s website. For more information, visit www.dar.org.