DAR honors 80 to 90 Decorah area Vietnam War veterans

More than 58,000 American lives were lost during the Vietnam War and 1,600 Americans remain missing.

Across the country, organizations are beginning to observe the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, a key event in the Vietnam War.

In Decorah on Friday the Hannah Lee Chapter of the DAR held a luncheon to honor members of the American military who participated in the Vietnam War.  Some 80 to 90 veterans attended--and were presented certificates of appreciation, as well as 50th anniversary pins.

Luther College professor Steve Holland, who recently helped to lead a Luther College January Term class on a trip to Vietnam, also spoke to the veteran about what his group learned during its trip, reflecting upon some of Vietnam's challenges and opportunities as it recovers from many years of conflict and faces modernization.