More than 100 attended the 40th Anniversary commemoration ceremony of the fall of Saigon, April 26, hosted by the local Vietnamese American community.
Held at the Flying Leatherneck Museum, the event included remarks by community leader Nguyen Giao, selections by a choral group, soloists, and a moment of silence to remember those who gave their lives defending their homeland during the Vietnam War.
In his remarks, Dennis A. Schoville, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War and president and CEO of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, praised Vietnamese Americans who began new lives, raised families and established successful businesses in the United States after the loss of their country to Communist forces in April 1975.
Schoville, who was severely wounded during the War, also expressed his personal thanks to those Vietnamese who helped wounded U.S. servicemen.
Trained as an Army helicopter pilot, Schoville was awarded two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts, along with several other Air Medals and service awards.
In addition to leading the Foundation, he currently is a director of the San Diego Veterans’ Museum and Memorial Center, where he chairs the Combat/Military Nurse Support Project.