Millions of U.S. troops fought in Vietnam. For some Americans, the war that effectively ended with the fall of Saigon 50 years ago Wednesday on April 30, 1975, continues to shape their lives.

One is a woman who continues to work to recover the remains of her father. Another is an anti-war stalwart who shares the lessons of the 1970 shootings at Kent State University. The third is a Vietnam veteran who helps fellow veterans in rural Alaska.

Vietnam has celebrated the end of the war with the United States and the formation of its modern nation 50 years ago with a military parade and a focus on a future of peace