Scottsdale to Honor Vietnam Veterans March 29 at Civic Center

For immediate release, March 5, 2026 
Holly Peralta, interim senior director of communications, office: 480-312-2655, mobile: 480-586-0402 
 
Scottsdale to honor Vietnam veterans March 29 at Civic Center 
 
The city of Scottsdale invites the community to honor Vietnam veterans at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 29, National Vietnam Veterans Day, at the Scottsdale Civic Center East Bowl. 
 
Hosted by the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission, the free public event is a communitywide show of appreciation for those who served during the Vietnam era. Complimentary lunch will be provided for registered guests. Registration is required. 
 
This year’s featured speaker is Vietnam veteran Francisco “Frank” Moreno, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and helicopter pilot whose service spans some of the most significant chapters of American history. 
 
As a young soldier with the 101st Airborne Division, Moreno was among the paratroopers who enforced President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s desegregation order at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. 
 
He later volunteered for flight school and served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. During the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang at Landing Zone X-Ray, Moreno flew 14 missions into an active combat zone to evacuate wounded soldiers. He and his crew rescued 33 service members, all of whom survived.  
 
His actions earned him the Silver Star, and the award is currently under review for a potential upgrade to the Medal of Honor. 
 
Moreno has often described his motivation with one word: “brotherhood,” a commitment to never leave fellow soldiers behind. 
 
The March 29 event will also feature a Vietnam-era OH-6 helicopter display, courtesy of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Southwest Chapter. Vietnam veterans in attendance will receive commemorative lapel pins provided by the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. Attendees will also have opportunities to share messages of appreciation and support for veterans and their families. 
 
Since 2017, March 29 has been recognized as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The day honors the service and sacrifice of the nearly nine million Americans who served during the Vietnam War and recognizes the families who supported them. 
 
In 2024, the city of Scottsdale earned special recognition from the U.S. Department of Defense as a “Top Performer” among organizations participating in the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration, reflecting the city’s continued commitment to honoring veterans with respect and gratitude. 
 
Community members are encouraged to register in advance to attend this free event.