"Another thing that broke my heart was that there were a lot of babies, a lot of mothers, innocent people that were being killed," said Army vet Margarito Cardenas.

Mike Lavoi and John Pearce, Bemidji-area Vietnam veterans turned advocates, share their stories to spread awareness and to celebrate Vietnam Veterans Day, a national holiday celebrated on March 29.

This year marks 50 years since U.S. armed forces withdrew from the Vietnam War, and those who served during the nearly 20-year conflict were honored Friday for National Vietnam War Veterans Day.The National Cemetery of the Alleghenies hosted the event,