Norwich — The Norwich Area Veterans Council will hold its annual Vietnam Veterans Day program at 1 p.m. Saturday on Chelsea Parade.

The event, sponsored by the city of Norwich, will be held rain or shine and is open to the public to honor those to who served “in country,” stateside, or elsewhere during the Vietnam War. Many still suffer from debilitating wounds, PTSD and Agent Orange exposure.

The event will honor those who served, those who were wounded or killed in action, those who remain missing in action, and the families who continue to suffer the loss of their loved ones.

U.S. Navy veteran, and past-NAVC president, John Waggoner will serve as the master of ceremonies, and the NAVC will change out the wreaths at the POW and Vietnam monuments on Chelsea Parade.

Linda Schwartz, Vietnam veteran and former head of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, will be the guest speaker, and Silver Star recipient Father Phil Salois, who serves as the national chaplain of Vietnam Veterans of America, will speak and offer the benediction.

Paul and Lloyd Salisbury will perform the national anthem. Tom Callinan, Vietnam-era Marine and Connecticut’s first official state troubadour (1991), will sing two original songs: “Thank A Vet” and “Some Gave All, All Gave Some.” Taps will be played by retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cdr. Joyce Harris.