CUMMING — Cumming Post 307 of the American Legion is seeking local Vietnam-era veterans to be recognized with a certificate of honor from the office of Gov. Nathan Deal in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war’s beginning.

The deadline to apply for a certificate is Feb. 1

“Last year, [Deal] announced this initiative, because there are so many veterans in the state of Georgia, I think roughly 250,000 Vietnam-era veterans,” said John Arant with Post 307.

“All you have to do is show us the dates and do what’s on the form as far as verifying that you were in the service during that wartime era, then they can receive one of these certificates.”

The certificates will be awarded to all who served during the Vietnam era, regardless of whether they were in the Southeast Asian nation.

Certificates will be personalized with the name and rank and branch and dates of service.

Post 307 will award the certificates during a ceremony set for 7 p.m. March 14 at the Georgia National Guard Readiness Center on Aquatic Circle, off Pilgrim Mill Road near Ga. 400’s Exit 16 in Cumming. There will also be a speaker, who will be announced closer to the event.

“We wanted to try to make as much of it as we could, since the Vietnam vets maybe did not get the recognition that they should have when they came back from Vietnam,” Arant said.

Veterans interested in receiving a certificate should contact Olin Sargent, the post’s service officer, for an application.

Sargent can be reached through email at osargent@bellsouth.net or through regular mail at 2020 Ridge Gate, Cumming, GA 30041.