Thirty-one years after the fall of Saigon, Vietnamese expatriates yesterday dedicated a plaque at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in tribute to U.S. military forces, along with those of allied nations, who fought side by side with South Vietnamese armed forces.

The event marked the first time that a memorial plaque donated by overseas Vietnamese in honor of U.S. armed forces has been placed in a national cemetery, said retired Col. Gene Castagnetti, director of the cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

"The war ended 31 years ago today. But I would submit to you all, there is no statute of limitations on honoring and recognizing that the Vietnam veterans of both nations — and our allies, who were in a combined purpose — were there for a noble cause," Castagnetti said.

More than 300 people, including local Vietnam veterans and Vietnamese expatriates from around the country, attended the Punchbowl dedication ceremony. The plaque was paid for with donations made by the overseas Vietnamese community and Vietnamese TV (Today's Vision) Ohana on behalf of the more than 1 million Vietnamese expatriates living in the United States.

"We are here today because you protected us when we were in Vietnam," said Nina Nguyen, the head of Vietnamese TV Ohana, the local affiliate of Vietnamese Today's Vision, which is televised internationally. Nguyen recalled being airlifted by U.S. forces out of Saigon five days before the South Vietnamese capitol fell to the communists.

"This is our thank-you note to all Americans who helped us and continue to help us," Nguyen said.

Nguyen Van Cahn, director of the Center of Vietnam Studies in San Jose, Calif., is a member of the nine-person committee that helped establish the memorial plaque. He said it recognizes the efforts of veterans who helped fight communism in Vietnam.

"This is to commemorate all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom in Vietnam," he said.

Retired Adm. Richard Macke of the Navy, the event's keynote speaker, recalled the day Saigon fell.

"I would venture to guess that on this day, there is another ceremony of sorts being held in Ho Chi Minh City, but certainly not in the same genre or same aura as it is here today," Macke said. "This was not the proudest day in American history, nor for the people of the Republic of Vietnam, yet it is a day marked by many historic and heroic actions."

During 18 hours culminating on the morning of April 30, 1975, more than 1,000 Americans and more than 7,000 Vietnamese were flown out of Saigon, Macke said, and 2,000 Vietnamese orphans were evacuated in Operation Baby Lift.

Rona Adams was then a nurse with the 44th Medical Brigade in South Vietnam who participated in helping lift orphans out of the country. She praised the Vietnamese expatriates for their recognition of Americans who served in Vietnam.

"It means a lot," Adams said. "It was probably the most worthwhile thing I've ever done in my life."

She added, "This is a recognition for all of us who were over there. It was so late in coming, but it is a wonderful, wonderful recognition. But better late than never."

Vietnam veteran Bob Kent, who served with the 25th Infantry Division, said he is pleased that vets are receiving recognition.

"When we first came back from Vietnam, we couldn't even wear our uniforms. At that time they were demonstrating against the Vietnam veterans," Kent said. "This is the first time we're really being recognized with a plaque other than the memorial in Washington, D.C."

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.