{"id":2223,"date":"2018-06-26T18:52:31","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T18:52:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=2223"},"modified":"2018-06-26T19:03:21","modified_gmt":"2018-06-26T19:03:21","slug":"army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-vietnam-war-commemoration-for-welcoming-home-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/06\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-vietnam-war-commemoration-for-welcoming-home-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Honors Vietnam War Commemoration for Welcoming Home Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2013 As a sign of appreciation for efforts to welcome home all who served during the Vietnam War, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service honored the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration during a special presentation with the Exchange\u2019s Board of Directors<\/a> on June 20.<\/p>\n

Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era, presented Commemoration leaders with a replica of an Exchange tractor-trailer featuring a special design to mark the war\u2019s 50th anniversary. Three trucks in the Exchange\u2019s fleet debuted the design just before National Vietnam War Veterans Day in March and have become rolling billboards across the United States, reminding Americans to \u201cthank and recognize a Vietnam Veteran.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cSo many of my Soldiers returned from Vietnam broken,\u201d Shull said after transferring the replica truck to the Commemoration. \u201cThe American public didn\u2019t understand their sacrifices\u2014and these heroes often didn\u2019t receive the homecoming they so rightly deserved. I think about these heroes every day. Thank you for allowing us to be a partner with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Rhodes, Director of Administration in the Secretary of Defense Office of the Chief Management Officer; Maj. Gen. (Retired) James Jackson, Commemoration director; and Maj. Gen. (Retired) Peter Alyward, Commemoration senior advisor; accepted the replica, which was presented on behalf of the Exchange\u2019s 35,000 worldwide associates.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have the Exchange help us increase awareness has been so impactful,\u201d Rhodes said. \u201cYou are a partner\u2014and our partners make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

In partnership with the Commemoration, Exchanges honored Vietnam Veterans with lapel pins during special ceremonies March 29 for National Vietnam War Veterans Day. At pinning events in communities around the world, 184 thousand Vietnam Veterans were thanked that day.<\/p>\n

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a national program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War\u2019s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025. More information on the program is available at www.vietnamwar50th.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Exchange is a Commemorative Partner in the Commemoration\u2019s 50th Anniversary efforts, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam Veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the Commemoration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange serves as a great partner,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cOur collaboration is truly special, and I look forward to what we will accomplish in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facebook-friendly version:\u00a0<\/strong>As a sign of appreciation for efforts to welcome home all who served during the Vietnam War, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service honored the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration during a special presentation with the Exchange\u2019s Board of Directors<\/a>. Read more:\u00a0https:\/\/bit.ly\/2KcQoSA<\/a><\/p>\n

— 30 \u2013<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 56th-largest retailer in the United States. Its earnings provided $2.4 billion in dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs over the last 10 years. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Julie Mitchell, 214-312-3327 or mitchelljul@aafes.com.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2013 As a sign of appreciation for efforts to welcome home all who served during the Vietnam War, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service honored the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration during a special presentation with the Exchange\u2019s Board of Directors on June 20. Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull, who served in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2227,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/06\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-vietnam-war-commemoration-for-welcoming-home-heroes\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Honors Vietnam War Commemoration for Welcoming Home Heroes","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/06\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-vietnam-war-commemoration-for-welcoming-home-heroes\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2018\/06\/26\/army-air-force-exchange-service-honors-vietnam-war-commemoration-for-welcoming-home-heroes\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/06\/41215547950_dc0d2c18a8_z-2-e1530039073648.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/06\/41215547950_dc0d2c18a8_z-2-e1530039073648.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Julie Mitchell"}],"creator":["Julie Mitchell"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2018-06-26T18:52:31Z","datePublished":"2018-06-26T18:52:31Z","dateModified":"2018-06-26T19:03:21Z"},"rendered":"