Certificate of Honor Program

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Sunsetting the Deceased Vietnam Veteran Surviving Spouse Lapel Pin (SSLP) and Certificate
(except Honorary Partners).

The Commemoration has established a special recognition program to honor the unique service and sacrifice for four categories of veterans and their families. Certificates are produced and shipped with corresponding lapel pins by the Commemoration to Commemorative Partner organizations upon request through the Commemorative Partner Portal. Certificates of Honor are available for our Commemorative Partners to present along with accompanying lapel pins for the following groups. Recipients receive only one certificate and one lapel pin from the Commemoration.

Former, living American military POWs from the Vietnam War as listed by the Department of Defense
Immediate family members (parents, spouse, siblings, and children) of American military personnel listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War by the Department of Defense
Immediate family members (parents, spouse, siblings, and children) of a veteran who is listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and who is not listed as missing or unaccounted for by the Department of Defense.

Except for Honorary Partner organizations, the following certificate will no longer be available through the Commemorative Partner Portal. This Deceased Vietnam Veteran Surviving Spouse Lapel Pin (SSLP) and certificate is being phased out. Any remaining inventory of these pins will be used to support ongoing Honorary Partner initiatives until the stock is depleted, and Honorary Partners should therefore continue their process as normal. Honorary Partner organizations need only to enter the surviving spouse's name and date on the certificate and print the certificate. Both the certificate and accompanying lapel pin should be presented together when honoring the surviving spouse of a Vietnam veteran.

Surviving spouse at time of death of a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period
1 November 1955-15 May 1975 regardless of location of service.

In its place, the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin (VVLP) will be substituted for presentation to these surviving spouses of deceased Vietnam veterans. We consider it a privilege to honor these spouses for their sacrifice with the very same distinguished memento that their Vietnam veteran would have received for their service.

Certificate of Honor Fact Sheet (PDF)

For further information, email us at: whs.vnwar50th_cpp_coh@mail.mil.