ADENA — The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration Commemorative Partner Committee and Adena American Legion Post 525 will honor Vietnam veterans and their surviving spouses for their roles in the long war that happened 50 years ago.

The Vietnam War began in November of 1955 and ended with the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 1973 and the unification of Vietnam under communist control in April 1975.

A National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremonial Program will take place at 11 a.m. March 29 on the Village Green square in Adena. It will be hosted by the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration Commemorative Partner Committee along with the Adena American Legion Post 525 and the Adena American Legion Auxiliary.

Recognitions at the ceremony will include the Surviving Spouses Recognition and a bridge dedication to honor Spc. Dale L. Stock.

The objectives of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam War Commemorative Partner Program are to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam war, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.

All area Vietnam war veterans will be recognized and presented with a Vietnam war veteran lapel pin, and Vietnam veterans’ surviving spouses of the post will be recognized and presented with a surviving spouse lapel pin. Stock, from Adena, lost his life in Vietnam and will be remembered at the ceremony.

Stock died in a helicopter crash after a mechanical malfunction 20 days after distinguishing himself at the battle of Nguy Hiem and earning the Bronze Star and distinguished Flying Cross.

At the time, Stock’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Stock of Adena, received personal letters from President Richard Nixon, Gov. James Rhodes, Sen. Clarence Bell and other officers of the U.S. Army.

Stock was known as a young hero during the war and received the Distinguished Flying Cross “for heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above and beyond the call of duty,” according to the citation.

The heroism came when “he served as door gunner of an armed UH-1C gunship, which was flying cover for a medical evacuation ship,” according to an article published in The Times Leader at the time. “When the medevac ship attempted an evacuation of several wounded soldiers, Stock provided accurate suppressive fire by leaning out of his ship and advising the pilot of the location of the enemy positions. As he leaned out of the plane, he was completely exposed to enemy machine gun fire.”

Prior to Stock’s death, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and the Expert Badge with rifle bar.

He also received the Air Medal Section I and Air Medal First, through the fifth oak leaf cluster.