Vietnam Veterans to be honored in special Tahoma National Cemetery ceremony

Veterans from the Vietnam War will be honored once again during a special 50th Anniversary commemoration ceremony held at Tahoma Nation Cemetery (TNC) on Saturday, April 1 beginning at 11 a.m.

Keynote Speaker for the event will be Jim Martinson, who wowed the crowd during the 2015 Veterans Day ceremony at TNC. A Vietnam Veteran himself, Martinson lost both legs above the knee in Da Nang in 1968, but he did not let that life incident keep him down for long. Instead, he picked up his life and started racing wheelchairs in 1976, competing in numerous road races and track events. He also went on to found Shadow Products, a sports equipment manufacturing company, and developed products like the Race Wheelchair for 10k, marathon and track, the Kan Ski for water skiing, the mono ski for snow skiing, the basketball/tennis wheelchair, and many other sports products. For his positive efforts, Martinson was presented with the Washington Ambassador for Goodwill Award as well as has received the Distinguished Citizen Award among many others.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Tahoma National Cemetery will honor the service, sacrifice, and enduring achievements of the Vietnam Veterans during a Vietnam War Commemoration 50^th Anniversary event through a special pinning ceremony. Those eligible to receive a special Vietnam Veteran Lapel pin during the special ceremony include any living US Veteran who served on active duty in the US Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location. The pins will be presented by Jim Martinson and Cemetery Director Thomas Yokes to each Vietnam Veteran in a dignified manner that will also be accompanied by personal remarks to each Veteran that reflect the nation’s thanks for their service and sacrifice.

The event will take place at the Main Flag Pole Assembly Area, location. Parking space is limited in the cemetery. Plan to walk to and from your parking spot to the ceremony.

For more information, please contact Cemetery Director Thomas Yokes at 425-413-9614.