By RiverScene Magazine Staff

National Vietnam War Veterans Day was Thursday, and this year Lake Havasu City honored its veterans with a ceremony and dinner event.

The London Bridge Resort sponsored and hosted the evening event and provided a spaghetti dinner to those attending. The Marine Corps League Color Guard posted colors, and Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen opened by thanking all veterans for their service and welcoming them home.

Charlie Marquez attends the Vietnam Veterans dinner Thursday evening at the London Bridge Resort. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“I have, over the last five or six years, gotten to know very well some Vietnam veterans here in Lake Havasu City,” said Judge Mitch Kalauli during his speech. “And the one thing that I can tell you about each one of them is they care very much about all of our veterans. And their commitment to their code and their commitment to serving others and serving us and serving the other veterans and their commitment to making sure that what happened to our Vietnam veterans never happens again to any of our veterans coming home is unparalleled. I want to thank you all for that from the bottom of my heart, for being the kind of person that I hope to be someday.”

Also in attendance were representatives from the local Military Moms organization, various city officials and community members.

LHCPD Chief Dan Doyle and Marine Corps League Veterans attend the Vietnam Veterans Dinner Thursday night. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Mayor Mark Nexsen speaks at the Vietnam Veterans dinner Thursday night. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Veterans attend the Vietnam Veterans dinner Thursday evening at the London Bridge Resort. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Dan and Alberta McNulty look over a map of Vietnam at the Vietnam Veterans Dinner Thursday evening. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Veterans attend the Vietnam Veterans dinner Thursday evening at the London Bridge Resort. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Veterans attend the Vietnam Veterans dinner Thursday evening at the London Bridge Resort. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene