Nearly 200 former Vietnam War POWs and their families are scheduled to arrive on Thursday at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif., to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the POWs’ homecoming and the historic White House dinner that celebrated their return. Thursday’s events include a tour of the library’s galleries with Ed Nixon, President Nixon’s brother; Christopher Nixon Cox, President Nixon’s grandson; and retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez, one of the longest held US POWs in Vietnam. There will also be a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of President Nixon, a “missing man” flyover; and POW celebration family BBQ, according to the Richard Nixon Foundation’s release. Events on May 24—the actual anniversary of the White House dinner—include a black-tie reception, banquet, and official portrait. On Saturday, there will be a panel discussion with former POWs on their experiences. The commemorative events in Yorba Linda, known as POW Week, began on May 20 with the opening of a special exhibit highlighting the POWs’ historic homecoming and White House dinner. It was “the largest dinner ever held at the White House,” states the release.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.