“TWO NATIONS. ONE SACRED PROMISE: TO REMEMBER THE WAR DEAD.”

THE CLASS OF ’58

The Class of ’58 is a national commemorative initiative that brings together fifty-eight eligible Vietnam veterans from each participating state to return to Vietnam as living representatives of their communities, their fellow service members, and those who never came home. They carry names. They carry stories. They carry a responsibility to ensure that sacrifice is remembered not only in stone, but through living testimony, remembrance, and continued service. Each delegation returns with a shared purpose: to honor the fallen, preserve the human history of the war, and carry their memory forward for future generations. 58 Veterans. One State. One Mission of Remembrance.

WHY THE CLASS OF 58

The number fifty-eight represents the more than 58,000 names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. They came from cities and farms, tribal nations and coastal communities, mountain towns and neighborhoods across the United States. Behind every name is an individual life—a son or daughter, brother or sister, husband or wife, parent, friend, and fellow service member. The Class of ’58 exists to ensure that they are remembered not simply as a number in history, but as individuals whose lives, service, and sacrifice remain part of our national memory.

A man wearing glasses and a navy cap with military patches and insignia, dressed in a burgundy shirt, standing outdoors in a rural area with a gravel road and green trees in the background.
An elderly man with a serious expression, wearing a blue shirt and a cap with a military patch, standing outdoors near a bridge over a muddy river.
An elderly man with a gray beard wears a baseball cap and a plaid shirt, standing outdoors in a green field with trees under a partly cloudy sky.
An elderly man with a serious expression, wearing a blue cap with patches reading 'Purple Heart' and 'Combat Wounded,' standing outdoors in a green field with palm trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
An elderly man wearing a navy cap and a black polo shirt, both with military patches and text, standing outdoors with blurred trees in the background.
An elderly man in outdoor explorer attire standing in a grassy field with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Older man with a mustache and beard wearing a black baseball cap with Army insignia and a blue T-shirt standing on a dirt trail in a green forest.
An elderly man wearing a beige cap and black t-shirt standing outdoors with cloudy sky and lush green rolling hills in the background.
An elderly woman wearing a striped sleeveless shirt and a green wide-brimmed hat stands outdoors near a river, surrounded by trees and greenery during daylight.
An older man with a beard and gray hair poses with arms crossed in front of lush green trees and mountains, wearing a blue outdoor shirt and a green baseball cap with an army patch and a penguin logo.
An elderly man with glasses and a mustache, wearing a baseball cap and a white short-sleeve button-up shirt, stands outdoors in front of a body of water and trees.
An elderly man stands outdoors with a scenic hillside and partly cloudy sky in the background. He wears a black baseball cap with yellow and red lettering that says "VIETNAM VETERAN," sunglasses, and a light blue T-shirt.
An elderly man wearing a black cap with colorful text and patches, a purple bandana around his neck, and a blue Columbia shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred green forest background.
An elderly man in a military uniform standing outdoors near a lake surrounded by greenery and trees, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Older man wearing a black military hat with a patch reading '101st Airborne Vietnam Veteran', standing outdoors with a mountainous landscape in the background.
A middle-aged man with a beige cap and t-shirt standing outdoors in a foggy, green forested area.
An elderly man with white hair stands in a doorway, wearing a white polo shirt and a black wristwatch, looking slightly to the right of the camera with a gentle smile.
A black and white photo of an older man wearing a baseball cap and a button-up shirt, standing outdoors with trees in the background.
A black and white photo of a middle-aged man with a mustache, wearing a cap and a polo shirt with military-themed embroidery. Background appears to be outdoor foliage.
Older man wearing a cap and black polo shirt standing among palm fronds, with a blurred outdoor background.
A Native American man wearing a feathered headdress and traditional attire standing outdoors in a natural setting with trees and cloudy sky in the background.
An elderly man wearing a blue shirt, a blue cap with patches, and a watch, standing outdoors near a stone wall with a cane in hand, with green foliage and a wooden fence in the background.
A man with glasses, a red beard, wearing a dark gray polo shirt and a cap with a military patch, standing outdoors near a body of water with greenery and trees in the background.
An older man wearing glasses, a cap with a military insignia, a checked shirt, and a neckerchief stands outdoors with tropical plants and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
An elderly man with a mustache and glasses wearing a dark blue cap with a military emblem, white outdoor shirt, standing in a green outdoor setting near a body of water with trees and an old shed in the background.
An older man with a white beard and mustache, wearing a brown shirt and a navy blue cap with patches, standing outdoors in a rural area with green plants and a thatched roof structure in the background.
An older man with a serious expression stands outdoors in a lush, green environment with water and palm trees in the background, wearing a navy cap and a gray long-sleeve shirt.
An older man with crossed arms standing outdoors in front of a rustic hut made of bamboo and thatch, with a black and white horse inside, and surrounded by green vegetation.
Older man with a white beard wearing sunglasses, a U.S. Army jacket, and a cap standing outdoors with green lush vegetation and a water body in the background under partly cloudy sky.
An elderly man with gray hair and a serious expression stands outdoors by a body of water at sunset, wearing a dark baseball cap with patches and text, a purple polo shirt, and glasses hanging around his neck.

THE STATE THEY CARRY

Every delegation carries the legacy of its home state. Participants return in honor of the men and women from their communities who served, those who died, those who remain missing, and the families who continue to carry their absence. Throughout the journey, veterans participate in ceremonies of remembrance, return to historically significant locations, preserve personal testimony, and carry forward the stories of those they represent. Their responsibility is both personal and national: To remember every life. To honor every sacrifice. To carry every story forward.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Each state delegation will:

  • Include fifty-eight eligible Vietnam veterans

  • Assemble through a designated state or unit liaison

  • Complete required military-service documentation and verification

  • Meet established medical and travel-readiness requirements

  • Participate in a structured twelve-day return journey

  • Attend commemorative and remembrance ceremonies

  • Engage respectfully with Vietnamese communities

  • Preserve firsthand stories and testimony for future generations

  • Represent the fallen and missing from their home state with dignity and purpose

Upcoming State Schedule —

Team Texas will assemble in Dallas this fall for a historic return to Vietnam honoring the service members from Texas whose lives were lost as a result of the war. The delegation will also recognize those who remain missing or unaccounted for and honor the families who have carried their absence across generations. Fifty-eight Texas veterans will return as representatives of remembrance—carrying with them the names, stories, and legacy of those who never came home.

Team Colorado will assemble in Denver this fall for a return to Vietnam honoring the service members from Colorado whose lives were lost as a result of the war. From Denver and Pueblo to Littleton and communities throughout the state, their sacrifice remains part of Colorado’s history. Fifty-eight Colorado veterans will return in their memory, representing a state that continues to honor their service and preserve their legacy for future generations.

State of COLORADO -

State of TEXAS -

Team Florida will assemble in Miami this fall to honor the service members from Florida whose lives were lost during the Vietnam War. Their stories extend across the state—from Miami and Tampa to Jacksonville, and communities beyond—reflecting the profound and far-reaching human consequences of the war. Fifty-eight Florida veterans will return as representatives of remembrance, honoring those who did not return and preserving their stories for future generations.

Team New York will assemble in New York this fall to honor the service members from across the state whose lives were lost as a result of the Vietnam War. From New York City to communities throughout the state, each represents a life, a family, and a story that remains part of New York’s enduring history. The Class of ’58 will return in their honor, carrying their memory back to Vietnam and helping preserve their legacy for generations to come.

State of NEW YORK -

State of FLORIDA -

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Group of nine men standing in front of a large military emblem with the words "GALLANT BEAUSARD." The men are dressed casually, some wearing hats, and are posing for a photo outdoors on a hilltop with a cityscape and greenery in the background.
A group of nine men, some wearing military hats, gather outdoors in a lush, green setting with trees and palm leaves. They hold an American flag with a white cross base, and one man in the front crouches while the others stand behind. The men are of
A group of eleven older men standing in a line in a wooded outdoor setting.
Group of people, including children and elders, gathered together for a photo indoors. Some are wearing traditional colorful indigenous clothing, and others are in casual attire. The setting appears to be a community or cultural event.
A group of men, mostly in casual attire, walking in a line outdoors surrounded by green foliage. The man leading holds a cross with a rainbow emblem.
Group of men standing in front of a 'Camp Hoele' sign, outdoors with greenery and cloudy sky in the background.
A group of men on the beach holding a USMC flag, smiling at the camera with the ocean in the background.
Group of ten men standing in a forest with dense trees and roots, some wearing hats with military or navy insignias, some with casual clothing, posing for a photo.
Group of children and adults standing outdoors in a rural area with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A group of men, many wearing black caps with military insignia, standing outdoors in front of an old military helicopter in a lush, green wooded area.
Group of eight men outdoors in a hilly, green landscape, some seated and some standing, wearing casual clothing and hats, with plants in the foreground and mountains in the background.
A group of men standing in front of a large monument featuring a seated figure reading a book and a tall tower with Vietnamese writing, surrounded by trees and greenery.
A group of eleven men holding an American flag outdoors in a green hilly landscape with a cloudy sky.
A group of fifteen people, mostly men, standing on the steps and in the doorway of an abandoned, weathered building with some greenery around it. Some are wearing military or veteran-themed clothing and hats.
Group of men, some holding crosses and wearing military-style hats, standing on a staircase in front of informational banners and signs at a memorial or commemorative event. The background includes signs with Vietnamese text.
Group of men standing underneath an old, rusty bridge over a grassy area with trees in the background.
A group of people standing in front of the entrance to the Mao Isen Central, with some wearing red hats and casual clothing. The entrance has a large black arch with the name "Mao Isen Central" on it, and there are banners for the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summ
Group of older men and women posing for a photo in a lush, outdoor forest setting under a large tarp.

A LIVING MEMORIAL

A memorial preserves names. The Class of ’58 carries those names forward. Through testimony, remembrance ceremonies, education, and community engagement, each participant becomes a living steward of memory. Their return ensures that those who gave their lives remain present in our national consciousness—not simply as names inscribed in stone, but as individuals whose service, sacrifice, and stories continue to matter. The Class of ’58 transforms remembrance into responsibility: honoring the past, preserving its human history, and carrying its lessons forward to future generations.

“This initiative honors a generation whose service shaped every corner of America—and preserves their legacy for those who will inherit its history.”

— Timothy DAVIS, (Founder)