Crowds of people, including U.S. veterans, lined up Sunday to place flowers and offer incense sticks to pay their respects to victims of the My Lai Massacre who were slaughtered by U.S. forces 46 years ago.

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The 46th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre was held at Son My Memorial located in the central province of Quang Ngai’s Son Tinh District on March 16. American veterans were among visitors to the ceremony.

Veteran Mike Boehm from Madison Quakers, a U.S.-funded non-profit charitable organization dedicated to victims of the My Lai Massacre, played a song on his violin in memory of the victims.

On behalf of Madison Quakers, Mike presented 36 scholarships worth VND1 million (US$47) each to poor students at a local elementary school.

Billy Kelly, another U.S. veteran, offered 504 rose flowers to pay respects to the 504 victims of the massacre.

On March 16, 1968, U.S. troops killed 504 unarmed villagers in My Lai hamlet in Son Tinh District’s Son My village.

Among the victims were 182 women, including 17 pregnant women, 173 children, 60 elders, and 89 middle-aged people.

The massacre shocked the world and generated anti-Vietnam War protests and movements across the globe.

Currently, the killing is referred to as the My Lai Massacre in the U.S. and called the Son My Massacre in Vietnam.