BIDDEFORD — The city’s Vietnam veterans, as well as those from across York County, will be honored for their service in Biddeford on Wednesday, March 15.

The ceremony, which coincides with the recognized 50th anniversary of the war, will take place at the American Legion Post 26 in Biddeford, which is also on the 98th birthday of the American Legion.

“I’ve been working a lot with our American  Legion post for more than a year. There are a lot of Vietnam veterans that are members — in fact it’s probably primary Vietnam veterans that are attendees — and I’m interested in that,” said Rep. Martin Grohman, D-Biddeford, who is helping to sponsor the event.

“It’s just a group of men and women who are really downtrodden in how they were treated when they came back (from Vietnam), and it’s the 50th anniversary, so I just thought it’d be a nice opportunity,” Grohman said Monday.

Grohman said he had been planning the event with the legion’s former commander, Jake Mulligan, who passed away suddenly on Oct. 29.

The two were friends, and Grohman paid homage to Mulligan at the city’s Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11.

“I had (the ceremony) planned for quite some time, and our commander Jake Mulligan unfortunately passed away,” Grohman said. “I had been planning it with him, so I had to cancel and reschedule.”

Grohman said the ceremony is a chance to honor those from Biddeford and all of York County who served in the brutal, 19-year war, which — according to the Congressional Research Service — killed more than 58,000 Americans and wounded more than 153,000 others.

About 9 million Americans served in the Vietnam War.

Grohman said there will be refreshments at the event, beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by presentations from Adria O. Horn, director of Maine’s Bureau of Veterans’ Services, among other dignitaries.

He said the event will also be dedicated to Mulligan, and a presentation will be given in his honor.

“I think it’s really important that, if you look at the experience of the vets, and obviously all vets, they had it pretty rough,” Grohman said. “It was stressful service and, when they came back, they weren’t really honored.

“That’s really what I want to change,” he said.

Grohman said he is encouraging veterans to respond to his Facebook post or to contact him in order to verify their veteran status. He said that if the state doesn’t have a service member’s DD-214 on file, they are encouraged to request an Honorable Service Certificate to verify their status.

These steps are to ensure recipient’s certificates and pins are properly addressed.

Grohman said hosting this kind of event is a passion of his, and that he hopes veterans feel appreciated for their service to the U.S.

“Hopefully it’s not 50 years too late,” he said. “If I can be a small part of just presenting them with our thanks, that’s really what I’m trying to do.”

The Vietnam Veterans 50th Anniversary Honor Ceremony will be held at the American Legion Post 26 on Elm Street, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 15. Veterans are encouraged to RSVP to the event on Facebook through Grohman’s page, “Martin Grohman for State Representative.”

Families of veterans are encouraged to attend for free refreshments and presentations honoring service members.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.