Rosely Robinson to keynote Vietnam Veterans Day March 31 in Dover

Rosely Robinson will serve as keynote speaker at the annual Vietnam Veterans Day event at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 31, at the Kent County Veterans Memorial Park on South Little Creek Road, Dover.

Robinson is the founder of the Delaware chapter of A Hero’s Welcome Delaware and has served as its director since 2012. The organization’s mission is ensuring all service members get a proper welcome home.

She has taken an active role in many other veteran-related initiatives, including organizing the first motorcade in 2013 for the wounded warriors who participated in Operation SEAs the Day, which organizes and facilitates a beach week for wounded soldiers and their families as a means of showing appreciation for their service and sacrifice. The motorcade honors participants on the final days of their week. She continues to coordinate the motorcade each year.

Robinson recently served as the Delaware coordinator for the POW Flag 50 State Tour from March 1 to 3. She coordinated 14 separate events throughout the state in two and a half days. Each event was designed to spread awareness of the 83,000 U.S. military members who remain unaccounted for since World War II.

Robinson also works closely with a number of other veterans organizations. As an advocate for the POW MIA Chair of Honor program, she is actively placing chairs throughout the state in dedication ceremonies.

“Mrs. Robinson immigrated to the United States from Brazil in 1962 at age 12 with her father and immediately focused on learning English and becoming an American citizen. Six years later she took the oath of citizenship as a proud American. We truly appreciate her inspirational passion for our great nation and for reaching out to young and old to teach the meaning of the ‘empty chair,’” said Chapter 850 President Joe Startt Jr.

The event is open to members of the public, who are encouraged to bring their children.