Members of the South Vietnamese military community were joined by U.S. veterans and supporters during a celebration of Tet (Lunar New Year) on Jan. 14 at Jumbo restaurant in Seattle.

Cohosted by the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces Association of Washington and Vietnam Airborne Association, the event featured traditional Vietnamese performances along with speeches, dinner and dancing.  "The purpose of the event is for Vietnam veterans to pay tribute to our rich military history," said Thuy Han, one of the evening's emcee translators. "We hope our event will inspire freedom in Vietnam. We will never forget the contributions Soldiers have made."

More than 400 people braved a snowy forecast to drive to Seattle for the event, including South Vietnamese veterans (many of whom came in uniform) as well as representatives from Special Forces Association Chapter 16 on Joint Base Lewis McChord and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Association.

U.S Representative Jay Inslee, (D-WA1) also briefly attended. "It's a huge honor for me to stand in front of this community celebrating Tet," said Inslee, a democratic gubernatorial candidate. "It's an honor to recognize the armed forces who fought next to U.S. forces for so many years for freedom in Vietnam. As we honor American veterans, so should we honor (South Vietnamese) veterans who served in Vietnam."

Also on hand to honor their comrades in arms were members of the Red River Valley Association (known as the River Rats), a fraternal organization originally started for pilots who flew the most dangerous missions over North Vietnam.

The organization is now made up of pilots and air crew as well as combat controllers and veterans of foreign military services, and its Air Warrior Courage Foundation provides aid and scholarships to current and fallen warriors and their families, said Joe Crecca, commander in chief of the Western Washington chapter.

Members of the River Rats attend events like the Tet celebration as a "measure of the continuing show of support and dedication to our Vietnamese comrades in arms by those of us who fought side by side with them during the Vietnam War," said Crecca, a former Air Force F-4C Phantom pilot who spent more than six years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Other River Rats in attendance included Rick Drury, Bill Reeder and Wes Schierman, who spent more than seven years in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" as a prisoner of war.

Their attendance "demonstrate(s) to these brave Vietnamese Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Rangers, Special Forces, Green Berets, red berets and Airmen that we still care about them," Crecca said."And we still remember with deep pride and enduring sadness the good fight that we fought."