Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) -  The public is invited to a special program at Rochester’s Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial this coming Saturday (June 27).

The event will be held to mark the 20th anniversary of the “ birth “ of the memorial.

It was in 1995 when community leaders and veterans honored members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, a military unit adopted by the city during the Vietnam War. The unit held its annual reunion in Rochester in June 1995 and it coincided with Rochesterfest. The members were honored as they took part in the Rochesterfest parade.

A plan to honor the 173rd with a special plaque evolved into plans for the Veterans Memorial and a committee was formed in October 1995.  Groundbreaking for the memorial was held in June 1997 and it was dedicated three years later.

Saturday’s program will include several members of the memorial organization. The memorial - currently valued at $6 million - was constructed without tax funding and led to similar projects around Minnesota and the country.

The program is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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