Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration 2012 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

2012 Homecoming Celebration for Vietnam Vets

Veterans who served the country during the Vietnam War, or Vietnam Conflict, may have returned home to anything but welcome and grateful celebrations. North Carolina wishes to honor these veterans and their friends and family members with a much deserved celebration at Charlotte Motor Speedway on March 31, 2012.

UPDATE on March 31, 2012: The official web site does verify that veterans who do not have a ticket will be allowed entrance if showing proper ID. They have quite a list of events, including Rolling Thunder, the Charlie Daniels band, the Oak Ridge Boys, Golden Knights parachute demonstration and much more.

The homecoming celebration is hosted by the United Service Organizations (USO) of North Carolina and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The North Carolina Association of Broadcasters also will provide support for this time of honor for Vietnam veterans.

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets must be reserved in advance by calling 1-800-455-3267, the Charlotte Motor Speedway box office, or via the web page. The gates open at 0900 or 9:00 a.m. Parking at the Speedway is free with handicap parking available through gate 1. Service animals are welcome.

Those who wish to reserve a scooter should plan to make reservations via Scoot Around or by calling 1-888-441-7575. Select option 1 for renting a scooter; then select option 2 for conventions/event. Mention the Vietnam Veterans Homecoming Celebration in Concord, NC on March 31 when making the reservation.

Many local veterans organizations or military installations are offering free transportation to the homecoming celebration, and some local hotels are offering discount accommodations for the weekend. Veterans are encouraged to bring their DD Form 214. Over 40 military and veteran non-profits will be available to assist with a wide variety of needs, such as enrolling in or filing claims with the Veterans Administration (VA), applying for military records or replacing authorized medals and awards.

This is a family-friendly event, and several demonstrations and displays will be available, such as a climbing wall, military vehicles, parachute demonstrations and more. Live entertainment and food vendors will be on site and dress is casual. The event will be held rain or shine and will be televised. People are welcome to bring camcorders and cameras.

Those who wish to drive may find these directions to Charlotte Motor Speedway helpful. Find additional and contact information on the Frequently Asked Questions page. For those looking for a hotel, you might want to try this link - keep in mind that the Charlotte Motor Speedway is in Concord rather than Charlotte: http://www.hotelplanner.com/Sample/110-3189/Group/Concord-NC-Military.html

Many of us have the utmost regard for the 216,000 Vietnam veterans and their families in North Carolina as well as veterans all over who have served and often continue to serve to this day.

For more articles on family-friendly events and travel destinations, visit my site map on Travel NC With Kids!