John Van Grinsven, a Vietnam veteran and former Ward County state’s attorney, will be the speaker at the 2 p.m. program of the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Celebration on Friday, March 29, at the Minot Armed Forces Reserve Center, 3420 2nd St. NE.

The event will be from 2-4 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, is national Vietnam Veterans Day.

Van Grinsven entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968, serving about one year at San Diego, California, (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) and Camp Pendleton, California. He served for one year in the Republic of South Vietnam.

The program will also include quilt presentations to three brothers who served in Vietnam by Lynn Heald, chair of the Peace and Honor Quilts of Valor Minot Program.

The three brothers grew up in Minot and served in the U.S. Army. They are:

– Wilson “Bill” Headrick, of Minot, volunteered for service in the Republic of South Vietnam in November 1966 and served for 15 months with the 334th Radio Research Company of the 1st Infantry Division.

– Loren Headrick, of Minot, volunteered for service in the Republic of South Vietnam in September 1966 and served one year with the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

– Patrick Headrick, of Bismarck, volunteered for induction through the draft in 1970 and volunteered for Vietnam service the same year. He served with the 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry, of the 9th Infantry Division. When the 9th Division departed South Vietnam, he was reassigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

Several Gold Star families attending also will be honored.

Others taking part in the program include Hailey Cree of Velva High School, who will sing the national anthem, and a color guard of Vietnam veterans representing four military services.

The event is open to all military veterans.

The Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Celebration is being hosted by a local Vietnam Veterans Committee comprised of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and American Legion.