Vietnam War commemorative medallion and certificate

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has produced a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration. The medallion and certificate will be made available to all living veteran, widows of veterans and other family members of veterans of the Vietnam War as a way of honouring their service and acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who did not return home.

Photo: Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs

The medallion’s obverse design features the Commonwealth Coat of Arms with “Vietnam War” inscribed on top and “Australia Remembers” at the bottom. On the reverse, the years 1962-73 are inscribed at the top, along with a UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” Helicopter, a depiction of HMAS Sydney (III) “Vung Tau Ferry”, and an Australian soldier holding an SLR. Each medallion will be presented in a display case with a card that explains the design and contains a brief expression of thanks. The commemorative certificate will feature the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, “Australia Remembers,” and the signatures of the Governor-General and Prime Minister and will come in a folder suitable for independent display.

RSL NSW has a long history of supporting commemorative events such as the Vietnam Veterans Day, which highlights the camaraderie within the veterans community. The medallion and certificate serve not only as a symbol of recognition for the veterans’ sacrifices, but also as a reminder to future generations of the service and sacrifice that our veterans have made in defense of our country. Therefore, the RSL NSW strongly encourage Vietnam veterans and their families to apply for these tokens of appreciation.

Eligibility:

Any veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Additionally, a widow or a family member of a veteran who served is also eligible to apply. Although the family member doesn’t need to be the immediate family of the deceased veteran it should be assumed that the immediate family members would have precedence.

Cost:

The medallion is free for any veteran who served in the Vietnam War.

How long does it take to receive the medallion and certificate?

The distribution of medallions and certificates will commence in June for those who have submitted their applications before or during June. For any applications after June,  distributions will be made within three weeks of receipt of the application.

To apply:

Application can be made online on the National Mailing & Marketing website.

For more information about the commemorative medallion and certificate, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.dva.gov.au/vietnam50. Alternatively, contact them at 1800 838 372 or via email at commemorations@dva.gov.au.