Honoring Vietnam Veterans: The History of Maryland’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day 

For many Vietnam veterans, the long-overdue recognition of their service has been a powerful and healing experience. Unlike veterans of other wars, many who returned home from Vietnam were met with silence—or worse, hostility—rather than gratitude. To change that narrative, Maryland established March 30th as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, a significant milestone in ensuring that those who served receive the appreciation they deserve. 

This effort was spearheaded by Diane Sancilio, Director of Counseling and Support at Gilchrist, along with Susan Walker, an attorney and volunteer at another hospice, whose passion for honoring veterans, particularly Vietnam Veterans, transformed an idea into reality. Their work not only led to the passage of a Maryland state bill officially recognizing March 30th as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day but also established an annual community celebration that has grown larger every year. 

How It All Began 

The idea for Maryland’s Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans event took shape when Diane and Susan witnessed time and again Vietnam veterans who had carried guilt, grief, and the weight of unspoken memories and found healing when they were finally given the chance to be recognized. Diane knew there were many more Vietnam veterans still living in silence, and she wanted to reach them before they entered hospice care. 

At the time, Diane was heavily involved in the We Honor Veterans program, a nationwide initiative to improve care for veterans in hospice. Through this work, she had witnessed firsthand how deeply Vietnam veterans carried the wounds of war—not just physical but emotional, spiritual, and psychological as well. 

The Journey to a Maryland State Bill 

Once the idea of a statewide Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day was set in motion, Susan Walker took the next step: She wanted a law. 

After researching, she discovered that more than 30 other states had enacted some form of recognition of Vietnam veterans. Susan and Diane, along with Leslie Hunt, a former aide to Senator Astle, and Denver Beaulieu-Hains, the Community Relations Officer for Fort Meade, reached out to Senator John Astle, a Marine Corps veteran and the only Vietnam veteran serving in the Maryland Legislature.  With his support, the process of drafting and introducing a bill began. Diane, Susan, Gloria Forbes—widow of Vietnam veteran hospice patient Mr. Forbes— and Dennis “Doc” Noah, a Corpsman who received the Silver Star for his service in Vietnam – testified before the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, sharing powerful stories of veterans who had never received the welcome home they deserved. Their words moved lawmakers, and the proposed legislation moved on to the Senate, where the bill passed unanimously, the only amendment being the addition of 46 senators as sponsors.  In a show of support, the House of Delegates cross-filed a companion bill sponsored by 27 Delegates, which also passed unanimously.

On the suggestion of Senator Astle, the bill was filed as an emergency piece of legislation, allowing it to go into effect immediately rather than months later. The official bill-signing ceremony with Governor Larry Hogan was set for March 30, 2015, making Senate Bill 80 the first legislation to be signed by Governor Hogan and marking the first-ever Maryland Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. 

The First Welcome Home Event 

With just 45 days to plan, Diane and Susan worked tirelessly to organize Maryland’s first Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration, working with Vietnam veterans to ensure that the event would be composed of aspects that would be meaningful to them, thus serving the mission of healing. A venue was secured, and they coordinated with veterans’ organizations, Dennis Noah, and others, including Fran Minakowski of MPT, all of whom were eager to help and spread the word as widely as possible.  The event was held in Annapolis at the Loews Hotel and drew a staggering 450 attendees. The event included a Color Guard from Chapter 451, Vietnam Veterans of America, and an Honor Salute by soldiers from Fort Meade and midshipmen from the Naval Academy, led by Master Sergeant Forbes of Fort Meade.

From that moment on, the event grew. In its second year, the event was moved to the BWI Hilton to accommodate 900 attendees—but even then, they had to turn people away at the door. 

Diane remembers one heartbreaking moment when a Vietnam veteran approached her, hoping to attend despite not registering. She had to tell him they were at capacity. He turned away, saying, “But I walked here.” That moment stayed with her, and she vowed never to turn another veteran away again. 

By the third year, the event moved to Martin’s Crosswinds in Prince George’s County, where nearly 1,200 people attended. That year, Coach John Harbaugh from the Baltimore Ravens was a guest speaker, and Cathy Hamel, President of Gilchrist, saw the event for the first time. 

In 2018, Gilchrist hosted its first Welcome Home event, welcoming 650 Vietnam veterans and guests. The event has been held annually ever since. 

Why This Event Matters 

Today, the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration is one of Gilchrist’s largest events and a cornerstone of its We Honor Veterans program. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. The event provides a long-overdue “Welcome home” for Vietnam veterans, many of whom are attending their first-ever public recognition. 

For some veterans, it’s the first time they’ve left their homes in years. Diane recalls one veteran telling her, “I only go out twice a year—once for this event.” For others, it’s a chance to connect with fellow veterans, share memories, and feel a sense of camaraderie they haven’t experienced in decades. It’s also a valuable recruitment tool, inspiring many veterans to become Gilchrist volunteers, offering companionship and support to fellow veterans receiving hospice care.

This year, the 7th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Celebration will take place on March 30, 2025, at Martin’s West. Organizers anticipate over 900 attendees, and registration numbers are already climbing.  “If you’ve never attended before, this is the year to come,” Diane says. “It’s a day of honor, remembrance, and joy. And for many veterans, it’s life changing.” 

Join Us 

Gilchrist invites all Vietnam veterans and their families to attend this year’s Welcome Home event. The event is free, and all attendees will receive a commemorative lapel pin, a meal, and the gratitude of an entire community. 

For more information or to register, visit: 
gilchristcares.org/events/welcome-home-celebration/ 

Let’s ensure that every Vietnam veteran finally hears the words they deserved all along: “Welcome home.”