By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Vietnam veterans are being honored in a community event, “Vietnam 50^th Anniversary Commemoration Ride and Day of Thanks,” on Saturday, Nov. 7, starting at 10 a.m. with a wreath laying ceremony at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo followed by motorcycle commemorative ride to Heart of Dixie Harley Davidson store in Pelham, concluding with lunch and a special vocal performance at HOD by American Idol finalist Jessica Meuse from Slapout, Ala.

The event is free but RSVP is requested. Contact Event Chair Kenneth Paschal, Post 555 1^st Vice Commander and Exchange Club member, at 626-9458 or legionriders@alpost555.

The day is sponsored by American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555, HOD, ASDAR David Lindsay Chapter, Alabama National Cemetery, McAllister’s Deli, Cake Art, California Pizza and the Exchange Club of Shelby County “to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personal who were held as prisoners of war or listed missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United states and to thank and honor families of veterans.”

For event timeline, see Alpost555.com.events/vietnam-veteran-ride-appreciation/.

The Exchange Club, chartered on July 9, 2015, is sponsoring the “Welcome Home Vietnam Vet Project” (WHVVP).

Art students at Thompson Middle School under the direction of teacher Claire Caldwell are making artwork for each veteran attending the remembrance day as a way to personally thank the vets for their service, something many veterans did not receive when they came home.

The project is chaired by Coni Fievet-Crawford and is open to any Shelby County child.

Veteran Bill Wigginton, Post 555 member, spoke to the students about his experiences as a K-9 war dog handler in Vietnam and how Vietnam vets were scorned when returned home from war.

The students are creating thank you projects as paintings, drawings, photos and graphic design protects to be presented at HOD after lapel pins and certificates of appreciation are presented by the DAR David Lindsay Chapter.