Manteca paid a terrible price during the Vietnam War.Seventeen young men with ties to the Manteca community died in the war.Those that served in the war did not get a warm reception when they returned home. Manteca veterans were among those that were targeted by protestors and even spat at when they returned stateside on chartered civilian airliners at West Coast airports.In an effort to make sure those who served in Vietnam from Manteca and throughout the region from Turlock to Lodi know that America appreciated their service and honors their sacrifices, a Vietnam War 50th Commemoration Ceremony is taking place Friday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Big League Dreams sports complex. It is designed as a belated welcome home.The event is being hosted by the Vet Center in Modesto that conducted a similar ceremony last year at John Thurman Field in Modesto.“It gets fairly emotional as family members are on hand to help acknowledge their service,” noted Gunny Reyes of the Vet Center.So far some 100 Vietnam veterans have registered for the event that will be attended by family members as well as anyone from the general public that would like to pay their respect.Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311 Commander Carlon Perry said organizers are hopeful that community members will attend with signs expressing their appreciation for the Vietnam veterans being honored.The event that will include a pinning ceremony is being followed with a meal afterwards at the Manteca Veterans Center, 580 Moffat Blvd., for Vietnam veterans and their families.A Presidential Proclamation on May 25, 2015 established the commemoration period for Vietnam veterans that started on Memorial Day 2015 and continues through Veterans Day 2025.Vietnam veterans are also being recognized next month with the dedication of the Vietnam mural commissioned by the Manteca Mural Society on the Manteca Bedquarters wall at Main Street and Yosemite Avenue.