El Mirage is among the first communities in Arizona to be formally designated a Vietnam War Commemorative Partner under an initiative observing the 50th anniversary of the conflict’s beginning. The Commemorative Partner Program, commissioned by the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, is a national effort to recognize and pay tribute to the more than three million men and women who bravely served the U.S. in a war a world away, including more than 58,000 who gave their lives and more than 1,600 who are still missing in action.

As a Commemorative Partner, El Mirage has promised to carry out at least two events annually for the next four years to honor Vietnam veterans and their families in a manner consistent with the highest traditions of dignity and respect. Upon learning of the City’s selection as a Commemorative Partner, Mayor Lana Mook noted, “The sacrifices of our country in Vietnam continue to resonate with generations of Americans. The Commemorative Partner Program is a very fitting way for us to publicly recognize the immense importance of these sacrifices.”