Heitkamp Honors Servicemembers from Vietnam War at Vietnam Memorial Exhibit Opening Ceremony

Press Release

During the opening ceremony today for the new Vietnam Memorial Exhibit at the Fargo Air Museum, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp thanked Vietnam veterans in North Dakota and across the country for their service and paid tribute to the fallen Americans who lost their lives in the war.

Building on her efforts through a series of speeches on the Senate floor to honor North Dakotans who served in the military during the Vietnam War, Heitkamp highlighted the exhibit's importance in raising awareness about the war, honoring the memory of those who lost their lives in Vietnam and educating younger generations about the sacrifices made by previous generations. She also spoke about our nation's responsibility to make sure all veterans receive the benefits and support they deserve, including access to the high-quality health care, job opportunities, and retirement benefits they earned.

"As our nation remembers the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, this new exhibit at the Fargo Air Museum will provide an opportunity to look back at this moment in America's history, honor both those who returned home and the selfless souls who made the ultimate sacrifice, and teach younger generations about the conflict," said Heitkamp. "For the last few months, I have had the privilege of working with Bismarck High School students to gather and share the stories of the patriotic North Dakotans who never made it home from Vietnam. Through that project and this new exhibit, we can encourage more students to learn about this important part of American history."

The Vietnam Memorial Exhibit will run from today, May 16, until June 1, 2015. Earlier today, Heitkamp spoke at the joint opening session of the AMVETS 34th Department Convention in Valley City, reiterating her commitment to make sure North Dakota veterans receive the resources and services they earned.

Heitkamp has been a vocal advocate to improve support for North Dakota's veterans and honor the state's servicemembers who were lost during military service:

Recognizing and honoring North Dakotans lost in the Vietnam War -- In March, Heitkamp began a series of speeches on the Senate floor to recognize the lives and sacrifices of the 198 North Dakotans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War. As the country remembers the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, she is collaborating with more than 150 eleventh-graders from Bismarck High School to gather information on these fallen North Dakotans and will incorporate their research into her Senate floor speeches. In March, Heitkamp met with these students in Bismarck and discussed with them the importance of their joint effort to honor the sacrifice and service of the North Dakotans lost in the war.

Hosted her first Native American Veterans Summit -- Last June, Heitkamp brought together top Administration officials, including the U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Native veterans, community leaders, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Indian Health Service officials to engage in an open dialogue about the challenges veterans face -- especially those living in rural areas -- and what can be done to correct them.

Pushed to improve veterans' access to services and benefits -- Heitkamp introduced her Connect with Veterans Act to better connect our nation's new veterans with the services, resources, and benefits that are available in their communities. She also helped successfully urge the VA to make a new policy change that will better allow veterans living further than a 40-mile driving distance from a local VA health care facility to access care in their communities -- a change she has long called for.

Helped pass bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to restore trust in the VA -- Last August, Heitkamp voted for and the Senate passed a bill to improve the VA health care system, restore trust in the agency, and help all veterans access the care and support they deserve.

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