Kicking off Navy Week in Des Moines, Iowa was the Veterans Parade at the Iowa State Fair, followed by a commemoration pin presentation for local Vietnam veterans Aug. 15.

The Veterans' Day parade honored active and retired military personnel throughout the day and featured military bands and floats to honor the military members and their families. It also kicked off Navy Week in the city of Des Moines, with the proclamation announced by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and presented to Rear Adm. Margaret "Peg" Klein, senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Military Professionalism.

Veterans of the Vietnam War who are still alive and served from Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975 are eligible to receive the pin regardless of the location they served in. The purpose of the pin is to thank and honor our veterans of the Vietnam War, to highlight the armed forces during the war, to pay tribute to those who contributed, to recognize the contributions of our allies and to highlight the advances of technology, science and medicine.

Retired Col. Robert King, director of the Iowa Department of Veteran Affairs, called veterans in attendance to step out and be recognized for their service.

"They're proud of their service," said King. "The service members who served in Vietnam didn't get the welcome they certainly deserve in the past and it's great to be able to show our appreciation today."

Retired Quartermaster 1st Class Pete Jones served in Vietnam and was surprised to hear of the presentation to honor those who served in the Vietnam era.

"It's long overdue, but I think it's great that they are appreciating us for what we did back then," said Jones. "We are all still in the healing process, but this really helps."

Retired from the Army, Peter Bagley served in Vietnam as a rifleman during the years of 1965, 1967 and 1968.

"I think it's great that they want to recognize us for what we did back then," said Bagley. "I think a lot of veterans need to open up to this because there's a lot of scars from what we went through in country and when we came home."

The Navy Week program is designed to raise awareness about the Navy in areas across the country that traditionally do not have a naval presence, and to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects through community relation projects; speaking engagements; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) demonstrations and media interviews with flag hosts and local area Sailors.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more information, visit http://www.vietnamwar50th.com, http://www.navy.mil.