Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Veterans, active military, ROTC, dignitaries, and well-wishers gathered at Camp Butler National Cemetery for a Friday afternoon event commemorating Vietnam Veterans Day 2025.

The day was established by the Trump administration in 2017 to “pay tribute to our Vietnam Veterans’ unwavering courage, dedication, and the countless sacrifices made by them and their families during one of the most challenging conflicts in our nation’s history”.

State Senator Sally Turner was the guest speaker. She spoke of her special commitment of veterans as her own father was career military and who is interred and Camp Butler.

Christoper Webster is the Assistant Director of Camp Butler National Cemetery Complex. He spoke about the 2970 soldiers from Illinois who never returned home. He says 3845 Vietnam veterans are now interred at Camp Butler.

He also says this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of America’s involvement in the 20-year-long conflict.

ROTC cadets from Lanphier served as the color guard and the Sangamon County Inter-Veterans Burial detail provided a 21 gun salute and trumpeter Mark Thomas delivered Echo Taps to the assembled.

 

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