The USO of North Carolina and the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters will honor the service of Vietnam Veterans with a state-wide "welcome home" celebration Saturday, March 31 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Many Vietnam veterans never received the type of homecoming celebration that today's troops receive as they return from service. John Falkenbury, President and COO for the United Service Organizations of North Carolina, said the event will include a look back in history.

"We will have vintage aircaft, vintage vehicles from the Vietnam War and we will have historical plaquards throughout the infield at Charlotte Motor Speedway that will pick a certain event or time and educate people. For example, we will be talking about the Battle of Khe Sanh, which was a Marine Corps battle, so that young people today will understand what really transpired there," said Falkenbury.

The Charlie Daniels Band, George Clinton, and other musicians will perform during the homecoming celebration.

A moving exhibit, which is an 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., will also be on display.

Millions of U.S. troops, including 216,000 from North Carolina, served in the Vietnam War. More than 58,000 U.S. soldiers were killed in Vietnam, including 1,600 from North Carolina.

Falkenbury said the long-overdue homecoming will also include assistance for veterans. 

"We are going to assist by bringing in the National Veteran's Administration team along with regional assets to do what we call a standdown - where they will be on site with their mobile assets to do health assesments, process claims, and answer questions that any veteran might have for them. We have also invited more than 100 military and veteran non-profits," said Falkenbury.

Veterans are encouraged to bring their military ID, VA ID or DD Form 214 to help the organizations assist them.

Falkenbury said so far, more than 64,000 people across the state have registered online for free tickets to the event. Volunteers and donations are also needed.

The state-wide Vietnam Veteran homecoming celebration will be held March 31 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.