Read the full text of the bill here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:h.r.588:

VVMF’s president and founder, Jan C. Scruggs says, “We are grateful for the work already done by Congressman Young and the bill’s co-sponsors in the House. We are eager to get working in the Senate, and to work with Majority Leader Harry Reid, Chairman Ron Wyden and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski to see this through.”

The Education Center was authorized in 2003 by the 108th Congress. Enabling legislation mandates that it be privately funded. While vigorous fundraising continues, the enabling legislation includes a restriction on donor recognition that inhibits a more successful effort among some of the potentially most generous donors. Recognizing donors in meaningful ways is an effective means of cultivating stronger relationships that may lead to additional, larger gifts, and stronger personal engagement.  Some potential donors over the years have delayed giving donations because of this issue.  H.R. 588 removes that restriction while respecting the inviolability of the National Mall.
The bill allows only short, discrete, and unobtrusive acknowledgments or credits; does not permit any advertising slogans or company logos; and complies with National Park Service (NPS) guidelines for indoor donor recognition. Final design approval will be granted by the NPS and will look similar to that on the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and other sites on the Mall.  The donor recognition envisioned for the Education Center will be inside this 43,000 sq. feet underground facility and will not be visible from the National Mall.  

Scruggs continues, “The Education Center has long since passed the design approval process and is now ready to move forward. Time is of the essence, and H.R. 588 is a clear, concise, and straightforward fix to a problem that has severely inhibited our fundraising efforts among substantial donors.”

About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.

The Education Center at The Wall will be a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. With plans to begin construction in 2015, the Center is a technologically-innovative learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and Lincoln Memorials. Visitors will better understand the profound impact that the Vietnam War and other wars had on their friends and family members, their hometowns and the nation. The Center will feature the faces and stories of the more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall, honoring those who fell in Vietnam, those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served. The Center will also celebrate the legacy of service that links the heroes of America’s past to those still serving today. It will provide an opportunity for visitors from around the world to more fully understand and appreciate the extraordinary sacrifice of those who have given their lives in the nation’s defense.  Visitors will not simply read their names.  They will see these patriots and get to know them in ways not envisioned in any other facility on the National Mall. The Education Center will truly be a place of learning and reflection about the values exemplified by the lives of those who have served and died for our country.

Learn more about the Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.vvmf.org or by calling
866-990-WALL.

# # # #

"Speaking for everyone from the NewDay USA family who participated, I can say that the washing of The Wall was an emotional experience that truly brought home our organization's commitment to the men and women who serve in the armed forces," said Rear Admiral Tom Lynch, (USN, Ret.), Chairman of the Board at NewDay USA and Co-Chair of the NewDay USA Foundation. "It was a privilege to do our part and honor fallen heroes by helping the VVMF with ongoing preservation efforts at The Wall."

Admiral Lynch, (USN, Ret.), was joined by Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley, (USA, Ret.), Colonel John Fenzel, (USA, Ret.), CEO of the NewDay USA Foundation and over 90 other members of the NewDay USA workforce and Board of Directors for the event.

"In the winter months, The Wall can lose some of its shine and clarity. With the first Wall washing of the season, we remove the dirt and grime to better reveal not only the names on The Wall, but also our own reflection. It is a deeply personal event and we are delighted to share it with NewDay USA," said Jan C. Scruggs, VVMF Founder and President.

NewDay USA was the exclusive sponsor of the Wall-washing that took place in the early morning hours at The Wall to honor and remember friends and loved ones.

After the scrubbing was completed, the group convened on the ceremonial grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the presentation of a $1 million check to the VVMF from the NewDay USA Foundation, the tax-exempt, principal instrument of philanthropy for NewDay USA. The ceremonial check was presented by Rob Posner, Co-Chairman of the NewDay USA Foundation to Jan C. Scruggs, VVMF Founder and President.

The Education Center at The Wall will be a place where military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. With plans to begin construction in 2014, the Center is a technologically-innovative learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and Lincoln Memorials. The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall, honoring those who fell in Vietnam, those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served. The Education Center will also celebrate the legacy of service that links the heroes of America's past to those still serving today.

"The NewDay USA family and its Foundation is extremely proud to make this commitment and include the VVMF as a philanthropic partner. We wanted to participate in a meaningful way, and our support for the Education Center helps to ensure that the faces and stories of fallen heroes are never forgotten," said Rob Posner, Co-Chairman of the NewDay USA Foundation.

The NewDay USA Foundation's primary philanthropic mission is to provide grants and charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations that support veterans, active-duty service members and military families. The Foundation's philanthropic partners include Hope for Our Heroes, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Renovating Hope, and Purple Heart Homes, among others.

NewDay USA encourages others to join in supporting organizations that honor and support the nation's active-duty service members, veterans and military families. Learn more about the Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.vvmf.org or by calling 866-990-WALL.

About NewDay USA

An industry leader committed to playing its part in supporting a vibrant, healthy housing market, NewDay USA is a nationwide VA, FHA and Reverse mortgage lender. The company focuses on helping active duty military personnel, veterans and their families to achieve their financial and housing goals. The company's work environment is designed to support both best practices in mortgage lending and career growth for mortgage professionals.

NewDay USA is the exclusive provider of mortgage lending for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members, and is among the top providers of VA loans in the U.S. In keeping with its commitment to helping past and current members of the U.S. armed services, the company is a major philanthropic partner of Hope for Our Heroes, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Renovating Hope, Purple Heart Homes, Scholar Academies, Carson Scholars and numerous others. Community service and giving back in the form of volunteerism also plays a big role among the NewDay USA workforce.

NewDay USA is the DBA of NewDay Financial, LLC, which is a key holding of Chrysalis Holdings, LLC, a premiere private investment company focused on the financial services industry. For more information about NewDay USA, visit http://www.newdayusa.com.

The Faces Never Forgotten program is an effort to put a face and a story to each name on The Wall through the generosity of those willing to help locate the photos and make financial contributions to build the Education Center. The outcome of the program will ensure that this vital piece of history will be remembered and honored by visitors from around the globe for generations to come.

Sgt. Phillips was killed while serving as a rifleman with B Co. 6th Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment when his night ambush position was hit by a rocket propelled grenade.  Along with Phillips, Sgt. Gary Gryzen of Hudsonville, Mississippi and Cpl. David McIntyre of Newark, Ohio were also killed.

To learn more about Faces Never Forgotten and how you can get involved, click here.

The Faces Never Forgotten program is an effort to put a face and a story to each name on The Wall through the generosity of those willing to help locate the photos and make financial contributions to build the Education Center. The outcome of the program will ensure that this vital piece of history will be remembered and honored by visitors from around the globe for generations to come.

Corporal McIntyre was killed while serving as a rifleman with B Co. 6th Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment when his night ambush position was hit by a rocket propelled grenade.  Along with McIntyre, Sgt. Gary Gryzen of Hudsonville, Mississippi and Sgt. Gary Phillips of West Jefferson, North Carolina were also killed.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has twenty-five names listed from Newark.  Due to the efforts of a tremendous number of volunteers, all the veterans The Faces Never Forgotten program has all of the photos of those listed on The Wall from Newark. 

To learn more about Faces Never Forgotten and how you can get involved, click here.

The Faces Never Forgotten program is an effort to put a face and a story to each name on The Wall through the generosity of those willing to help locate the photos and make financial contributions to build the Education Center. The outcome of the program will ensure that this vital piece of history will be remembered and honored by visitors from around the globe for generations to come.

Sgt. Gryzen was killed while serving as a rifleman with B Co. 6th Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment when his night ambush position was hit by a rocket propelled grenade.  Along with Gryzen, Sgt. Gary Phillips of West Jefferson, North Carolina and Cpl. David McIntyre were also killed.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial has three names listed from Hudsonville.  Specialist Gary Peasley was killed on December 27, 1966 and Specialist Joel Vruggink was killed November 6, 1968.  Unlike Sgt. Gryzen, The Faces Never Forgotten Program is still searching for photographs of Vruggink and Peasley.

“We’re calling upon everyone to help us remember the service and sacrifice of those who served from their community,” Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund founder Jan Scruggs said. “Gathering the photographs and memories of those who served will be essential to memorializing them for generations to come.  I’m hopeful someone in Hudsonville can help us find the missing photographs.”

To learn more about Faces Never Forgotten and how you can get involved, click here.

Murdy served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1974, including one year in the Dominican Republic with the 82nd Airborne, two years in Vietnam with the Corps of Engineers and 173rd Airborne Brigade, and three years teaching economics at West Point.  He left active duty as a Major and continued his service  in the Army Reserves.

Murdy said he knew most of his 23 classmates who died in Vietnam personally, and that seven of them were especially close friends of his.

“As Jim Wright, the former President of Dartmouth, said at a ceremony at The Wall, the names on The Wall ‘cry out to be known,’” Murdy said. “Their lives were cut short by the Vietnam War; the Education Center offers a way for them to be heard…and seen…and further honored.  An extended description of their sacrifice should help visitors focus on the serious human consequences of the Vietnam War, and indeed, all wars, past and future.”

The Education Center at The Wall will be a place on our National Mall where our military heroes’ stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. With completion planned for 2014, the Center is a multi-million dollar, state-of- the-art visitor’s center and learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and Lincoln Memorials.

Murdy is eager to see the Education Center open its doors to the American public, and to begin teaching the lessons of the Vietnam War.

“Like many, I think I ‘grew up’ in Vietnam, or at least grew at a faster rate toward maturity by virtue of the war,” Murdy said. “My service was not heroic, but being there and serving gave me a more complete appreciation for the heroes of that war and the service of those who gave their last full measure of devotion.”

One of the service members Thompson donated in honor of was PFC Daniel D. Bruce, a fellow Marine.  PFC Bruce was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after he was killed on March 1, 1969 when he caught enemy explosive charge and shielded his fellow Marines from the resulting explosion saving all three of their lives.  Thompson escorted Bruce’s remains back to Michigan City, Indiana after his gallant action.

The donations were made as part of the Faces Never Forgotten program with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The program is an effort to put a face and a story to each name on The Wall through the generosity of those willing to help locate the photos and make financial contributions to build the Education Center. The outcome of the program will ensure that this vital piece of history will be remembered and honored by visitors from around the globe for generations to come.

“Ever since Vietnam, we’ve always talked about our other conflicts like Vietnam,” said Thompson.  “When Afghanistan started or Iraq began, we said, ‘Let’s not get into another Vietnam.’  If we forget the stories, and forget the sacrifices, how can we compare them?”

Thompson remains dedicated towards continuing to fundraise for the Faces Never Forgotten program. “We can’t leave the memories of these guys behind.  It’s too important to me for people to understand what we did,” said Thompson.

To learn more about Faces Never Forgotten and how you can get involved, click here.  

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know why I was home,” Johnson said.

Dustin Meeks, Thomas Dotson, Larry Kirkland, Dixon Hunt, Jerry Fraze, and John Roberts.

He faced even more pain on his first night back in the U.S.. Johnson had been proud of his service and his awards, but that very evening a friend told him to take off his uniform and forget about the war because no one wanted to hear about it. So Johnson did as he was told: he stopped talking about his time in Vietnam. Using the GI Bill he completed his degree at the University of Texas. He started a long and successful career with the fire department because the work resembled the military. But all along, Johnson never forgot his friends; Dustin Meeks, Thomas Dotson, Larry Kirkland, Dixon Hunt, Jerry Fraze, and John Roberts.

“I started going to these funerals,” Johnson said. “I thought, ‘How do these families feel? They’re burying their sons for something that we can’t even talk about?’”

Johnson became interested in Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund only years later, as he saw service members returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He saw airports full of people welcoming the troops home and he wondered why they weren’t there to support his friends returning from Vietnam.

Johnson is eager to see the Education Center at The Wall open its doors on the National Mall and to remind people of the scarifies of his generation and of the current generation. As part of our Faces Never Forgotten program, he is leading a personal fundraising campaign in honor of his six classmates. He has made a tremendous effort to get the students and teachers of R. L. Turner High School involved in his campaign; many of the kids have donated.

“If I had the means, I would give enough to build it,” Johnson said. “I don’t. But I’m doing what I can.”

If you would like to donate to Johnson’s campaign, click here

Harris was one of hundreds of the area’s youth in the late 1960s. He was inspired to serve by people like his father in a war few understood or supported. He enlisted in the Air Force, joining thousands during the Vietnam War. Upon returning to Virginia, he joined the Virginia State Police and rose quickly up its ranks.

“I never forgot the men and women I served with,” Harris said. “I always was grateful that I was able to come home.”

Air Force Capt. Woodrow Fitzgerald from Staunton was the first local casualty on Oct. 24, 1963. Army Spc. Franklin Breckenridge was the last who made the ultimate sacrifice on Nov. 28, 1970.

“I heard about the Faces Never Forgotten program with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Through them, I learned we had an opportunity to honor these guys,” Harris said.

The Faces Never Forgotten program attempts to locate and provide photographs of each of the service members honored on The Wall. The program also includes an effort to raise money to fund the construction of the Education Center at The Wall so that those photos and stories can be displayed and highlighted for the millions who visit The Wall.

“I approached my friends at American Legion Post 340 and they enthusiastically said they’d help,” said Harris. He hopes to meet with other veteran and community organizations to continue efforts.

“Together, we can all get out to find the photographs of these guys and make sure we preserve their stories for future generations,” said Harris. VVMF has collected eight of the 22 names from the Augusta County area.

“They had the ceremonial groundbreaking on Nov. 28 at the site of the Education Center,” said Harris. The ceremony was the beginning of a final effort to raise the remaining $30 million needed to begin construction. Harris has pledged to raise $22,000 in honor of Augusta County’s fallen.

“They’re hell-bent to get that center open in 2014 and I’m going to make certain we don’t forget all that our boys gave,” Harris said.

To learn more about the Faces Never Forgotten campaign, click here.

By Jan C. Scruggs

The past decade has not been a pleasant time for many who serve in our armed forces.

Many recall holidays deployed  in danger zones  far from home.  Places like Fallujah, Kandahar and Bagdad brought our troops many challenges. America has had over 50,000 wounded,  nearly 7,000 dead. Others have injuries like PTSD, tinnitus and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Wars have costs — often profound — for the warriors.

Many Americans actually do not know anyone who has been deployed in the military. It used to be very different. During the Vietnam War it sure was.    I volunteered at age 18 for a two-year stint in 1968.

Most of those I served with were drafted. I liked the idea of getting it over with right out of high school. The Army made me  an infantryman. They were losing hundreds on a weekly basis. I ended up in Vietnam, seeing combat here and there.  Thanks to the skill of a North Vietnamese RPG team, I got shot up badly enough to get a free education. I ended up with a master’s degree in counseling psychology from American University in Washington D.C.. And later a law degree. So it was a fair trade.

Flowing from all of this education, I became an authority on PTSD, writing articles and testifying to the U.S. Congress. Then came the idea of a national memorial honoring Vietnam veterans. A lot people helped considerably, especially some dedicated and skilled graduates of West Point. One was Robert Kimmitt, who went on to become the U.S. ambassador to Germany. There were a lot of them, several with MBAs from Harvard. I was just a former E-4 with an idea, energy and audacity.

The effort to create the Wall was action packed with thrills and spills and controversy, but the entire effort — legislative, funding, design competition and construction — was completed in three years. As decades moved on, “the Wall that heals evolved into the Wall that educates.” These are actually the words of Brian Thacker, a Medal of Honor recipient. In 2000, with help from a lot of VIPs like Senators Chuck Hagel, John McCain and John Kerry — we started work on the Education Center at the Wall. The Memorial gave the veterans of the Vietnam War society’s recognition. The Center would teach that society about what the veterans did. 

You are invited to a ceremonial groundbreaking for the center on Wednesday, November 28.

Read the full story: http://nation.time.com/2012/11/26/separating-the-war-from-the-warriors/

Today’s generation of military men and women have not suffered a shortage of encouragement from our nation. Our service members are grateful for the care packages, kind words from strangers, contributions of military support organizations and warm homecomings. We know the nation has not always been as united behind the military, and we do not take that encouragement for granted.

However, even with an outpouring of support, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans face a different challenge. Today’s military members serve a nation more disconnected from its armed forces than at any time in our country’s history. Less than one percent of our citizens serve in uniform.

At the 2011 West Point graduation ceremony, Admiral Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the American public was undoubtedly supportive of the military, but admitted, “I fear they do not comprehend the full weight of the burden we carry or the price we pay when we return from battle.” For such a divide to exist after our military had endured, at that time, nearly 10 years of continuous combat speaks to just how few personal connections Americans have with today’s warriors.

Our nation needs a place that helps us make a personal connection to those who have answered the call, a place that both honors current service members and educates our citizens about the individual stories behind the names and numbers we see on the news. The military may be just a small minority of today’s population, but the sacrifices made by these service members are just as profound as those made by every generation before. Their bravery is just as unmatched. Their heroism is just as great. The grief of their family and friends when they do not return is just as wrenching. And the obligation we have to ensure our nation never forgets who they were is just as sacred.

Until the day comes when our nation finds an appropriate way to pay tribute to the men and women who served in the Global War on Terror, the founders of the Vietnam War Memorial have offered to share a place of honor with today’s veterans. On Nov. 28, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will host a ceremonial groundbreaking on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for The Education Center at The Wall, a facility that will use photos, state of the art technology, and the 400,000 pieces of memorabilia left at the Vietnam War Memorial since 1982 to tell the stories of the more than 58,000 engraved names.

A place within this center will be dedicated to the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan. Digital photos of these service members will be shown in rotating displays. The exhibit will help bring to life those selfless men and women who gave their lives in relative obscurity in defense of our nation. It will also provide those of us who knew them a common setting where we can visit and reflect.

The veterans of the Vietnam War know what it is like to wait for a memorial to be authorized and created. On behalf of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are grateful that they are ensuring that a memorial for our generation will be ready to welcome the last of our troops returning from Afghanistan in 2014.

I encourage our nation to support the construction of The Education Center to keep alive the stories of those we have lost. Once you learn what they gave for our country, you’ll understand why I consider them the true heroes.

Top National Leaders Join Gold Star Families for Ceremonial Groundbreaking for The Education Center at The Wall
Center to Tell Stories of Vietnam War and Post-9/11 Fallen

WASHINGTON (November 19, 2012) – Gold Star family members will be joined by Congressional leaders, senior military officers, and veterans for the ceremonial groundbreaking for The Education Center at The Wall Wednesday, November 28. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta will deliver remarks during the ceremony. The Education Center at The Wall will be a national landmark dedicated to bringing to life the stories of the more than 58,000 American service members lost in the Vietnam War. It will also tell the stories of the fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as a temporary place of remembrance until today’s veterans receive their own national honor.

“The Education Center at The Wall is a place where important values – Duty, Service, Courage, and Integrity – will be celebrated. It is proper that the new veterans, and those now in combat zones, will be honored at this special place, ” said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

The Education Center’s “Wall of Faces” exhibit will give visitors an intimate look at the lives of those lost in the Vietnam conflict, as told by the 400,000 items that loved ones, friends and visitors have left at the Vietnam War Memorial since 1982. Another exhibit will tell the story of America’s legacy of service in our nation’s military through the multigenerational voices of veterans who served from 1775 through today. The section remembering those lost in Iraq and Afghanistan will be enhanced to serve as an interim national memorial to today’s heroes. Digital photos of the fallen from these wars will provide visitors an appreciation for each of the Americans who gave their life in those conflicts.

“The veterans of the Vietnam War know what it is like to wait for a memorial – a healing place – to be authorized and constructed. Today’s heroes shouldn’t have to wait,” said Scruggs. “Our goal is to have The Education Center at The Wall open in time to welcome home our last troops returning from Afghanistan.”

Honorary Groundbreaking Committee members include President George H.W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House John Boehner, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Governor Rick Perry, General Colin Powell, Admiral Michael Mullen, General Peter Pace, General Richard Myers, General Wesley Clark, General James Jones, Marvin Kalb, James P. Hoffa, Jimmy Buffett, Senator Chuck Hagel, American Gold Star Mothers, Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America, and more.

The ceremonial groundbreaking will be preceded by a prayer breakfast on Capitol Hill.

Event:    Ceremonial Groundbreaking of The Education Center at The Wall

Date/Time:   November 28, 2012, 10 – 11:15 a.m.

Speakers include: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
Vietnam Veteran Dr. Michael McClung, USMC, Gold Star Father of Major Megan McClung, USMC, KIA Iraq

Location: Washington, D.C. on the National Mall (Henry Bacon Drive and Constitution Avenue, NW)

Media: Media interested in attending must RSVP by November 26 to Sara Neumann at sneumann@susandavis.com or 202-414-0788.

About VVMF and The Education Center at The Wall
Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall is a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. To date, $47 million of the $85 million necessary to commence construction has been raised. Support The Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.buildthecenter.org or call (866) 990-WALL.

# # #

The Education Center at The Wall will be a place on the National Mall where America’s military heroes’ service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. It will honor those who died and all who have served from Bunker Hill to Khe Sahn to Kandahar.  It will be an inspirational place, where visitors leave yearning to learn more. The Center will have a special tribute to veterans who we will welcome home on this site in 2014 – those returning from Afghanistan.

• View the Ceremonial Groundbreaking Invitation
• Learn more about VVMF's effort to welcome home our Afghanistan veterans in 2014
• Read the Washington Examiner Article "Uncle Sam AWOL in new Vietnam Memorial effort"
• Read the Daily Beast article

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Chairman to Visit Pensacola

Local Group to Hosts Event in Support of Education Center at The Wall

WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, October 10, John Dibble, Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) will visit Pensacola, Florida to detail the Fund’s mission to honor the more than 58,000 service-members inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, DC. During a luncheon hosted by at the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association’s Pensacola Chapter, Mr. Dibble will present the latest plans for the Education Center at The Wall.

Also speaking will be Jill Hubbs, daughter of Cdr. Donald Richard Hubbs, USN, whose name is etched into Panel 45E, Line 12 of The Wall. Hubbs will tell her father’s story as well as share how meaningful the Education Center will be to her family and thousands of others who lost loved ones in the Vietnam War.

When:  Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
Where:  New World Landing, 600 S. Palofax Street, Pensacola
Cost:  Lunch is $20 (Reservations and pre-payments are required.)
RSVP:  Kurt Woltersdorf, USNAAA Pensacola President.
Email: usnaaapensacola@gmail.com

For a printable version of this invitation, please click here.

While in Pensacola, Dibble will formally initiate the “Faces Never Forgotten” campaign – a combined campaign to gather photographs and stories of the state’s fallen heroes.

To date, VVMF has collected only 704 photographs of the 1,954 Floridians listed on The Wall. During the luncheon, Dibble, Hubbs and others will ask all Floridians to participate in the initiative and locate photos of the remaining 1,250 Floridians on the memorial. When collected, all photos will be displayed for generations to come at The Education Center at The Wall, a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

“Florida suffered some of the worst hardships of any state during the Vietnam War,” said John Dibble. “The Education Center at The Wall will allow Americans to put faces with the names of brave men and women who lost their lives, fostering their appreciation and respect for generations to come.”  

VVMF urges the public to assist the Faces Never Forgotten campaign by submitting pictures of fallen service-members to be scanned at the event, and by generously supporting the Education Center. Together, we can ensure that the sacrifices of our military heroes are never forgotten.

How to Submit a Photo
If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, please help the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honor these individuals by putting a face with their name.  You may use either of the following methods to submit your photograph:

Submit Online
If you have a digital copy of the photograph, you can upload the photograph at http://vvmf.org/submit_other.

Mail a copy of your photograph
Make a copy of your photo.  VVMF does not want original photos and cannot be responsible for returning photos.  When having the photo copied, ask the photo professional to make it the highest quality possible, use a glossy finish and reproduce the photo at an 8 x 10 size, if possible. Be sure to include the photo submission form, and please indicate on the front of the envelope that a photo is enclosed.  Mail to:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Attn: Call for Photos
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20037

For more information about how to add a photograph to the collection, please contact VVMF at (202) 393-0090 or via email at gpojani@vvmf.org.

About VVMF and the Education Center at the Wall

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall is a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Support the Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.buildthecenter.org, calling 866-990-WALL.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lee Allen
Phone: (202) 393-0090, ext. 109

Many individuals and organizations have made or raised $1,000 for specific names on The Wall.  View the list of individuals also supporting this effort.  

To learn how to make your $1,000 pledge, click here. 

VVMF is proud to present the Charles “Mac” Mathias Award to The Honorable Tom Ridge, for his exemplary service and his lifelong dedication to the country. Governor Ridge was raised in a working-class family in veterans' public housing in Erie, PA. He earned a scholarship to Harvard, graduating with honors in 1967. After his first year at Penn State University's Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After returning to his home state of Pennsylvania, he completed his law degree and was in private practice before becoming assistant district attorney in Erie County.  Governor Ridge was elected to Congress in 1982. He was one of the first Vietnam combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and was overwhelmingly re-elected by Pennsylvania voters five times. Governor Ridge has also served as the two-term Governor of Pennsylvania.  Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Governor Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Governor Ridge is president and CEO of Ridge Global and leads a team of international experts that help businesses and governments address a wide range of needs throughout their organizations.

Throughout his career, Governor Ridge consistently answered the call to service as a former soldier, congressmen, governor and cabinet member. He stands out in his commitment to high standards and his focus on results. As Governor of Pennsylvania, he delivered on his promise to make Pennsylvania "a leader among states and a competitor among nations." Governor Ridge's aggressive technology strategy helped fuel the state's advances in economic development, education, health care and the environment. As Secretary of Homeland Security, he worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods, instituted layered security at air, land and seaports, developed a unified national response and recovery plan, protected critical infrastructure, integrated new technology and improved information sharing worldwide.  Governor Ridge continues to contribute to matters concerning our nation’s veterans and, along with General Tommy Franks (Ret.), serves as national co-chairman of the Flight 93 Memorial Fundraising Campaign.

Charles “Mac” Mathias Award History:

In 2010, former U.S. Senator Charles Mathias Jr. of Maryland died at the age of 87 from Parkinson’s disease.  He was part of a generation of rare lawmakers–a statesman in every context of the word and a friend to America’s veterans and their families. Although he opposed the Vietnam War, as a World War II veteran himself, he understood the sacrifices of those who served.

Senator Mathias was one of the original sponsors of the legislation in 1979 that authorized the construction of a Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in our nation’s capitol.   The Senator was responsible for choosing the National Mall as the site of the Memorial, giving it his time, attention and devotion until its completion on Veterans Day 1982.

When issuing the challenge in 2010, Holt commented, “Those of us who served in Vietnam will never forget the faces of our brothers who fought and died beside us. I strongly believe we should put faces with the names on the granite wall. We also need to honor the values of military service and its importance to this great democracy of ours.”

Holt is the CEO of Holt Companies, whose holdings include the largest Caterpillar dealership in the United States. He is a Vietnam veteran, having served two years in the U.S. Army, including one tour in Vietnam. For his action in combat, he was awarded the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart.

“The Education Center has benefited immensely from Peter Holt’s leadership and generosity of the people of Texas,” said Jan C. Scruggs, Founder and President of VVMF. “Texas was the first state to pledge its support of the Education Center, when Governor Perry joined the leadership team in November 2008. Texans have never let us down.”

Under the matching grant program, Holt pledged to match any amount raised by individuals, community groups, veterans organizations or other civic entities in Texas, until his total contribution reached $1 million.

The names of 3,416 individuals from Texas are on The Wall. The Texas leadership, including Gov. Perry and Jay Kimbrough, state coordinator for the Texas grassroots campaign, has vowed to gather photos for each of them in tandem with their efforts to raise funds for the Center. With Peter Holt’s matching grant, the state of Texas is $2 million closer to reaching the goal of raising $1,000 in honor of each Texan listed on The Wall.

“It’s the right thing to do,” continued Holt. “This project is important to the future of our country, as well as to me personally. I want all of Texas—and, indeed, all of America—to know and remember.”

As a young priest in 1965, Cardinal O’Brien served as a civilian chaplain at the United States Military Academy at West Point until 1970, when he became an Army chaplain with the rank of captain. He went on to serve as chaplain at Fort Bragg in North Carolina with the 82nd Division (1970–71), and in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade and 1st Cavalry Brigade (1971–72).  Following his tour in Vietnam, Cardinal O’Brien was a post chaplain at Fort Gordon in Georgia.  After earning a doctorate in Sacred Theology and serving in a number of leadership roles within the Catholic Church, Cardinal O’Brien returned to minister to the U.S. Armed Forces as Archbishop for the Military Services from 1997 to 2007 where he spoke out in support of the moral integrity of our military personnel and the importance of deploying our military responsibility.  

In June 2007, Pope Benedict appointed O’Brien the 15th Archbishop of Baltimore, a position he held until moving to Rome in May 2012.

Cardinal O'Brien will be presented with the Legacy of Service Award at the 2012 Build The Center Benefit Gala.  For more information on how to attend, please visit:  http://www.buildthecenter.vvmf.org/pages/gala

Washington, DC – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) announces that the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) today approved Preliminary building and site plans for the Education Center at The Wall.

In 2006, NCPC approved the site location for the Education Center at The Wall, which will be located on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial.  At that time, the authorizing legislation for the Education Center stipulated that the facility would be constructed underground.

Since the site approval, NCPC and the Commission of Fine Arts have developed design guidelines for the Education Center. NCPC’s intent for the design guidelines for the Education Center has been to minimize visual obstructions to other historically significant sites on the National Mall while welcoming visitors and supplementing the experience of The Wall.  In its guidelines, NCPC staff has recognized the significance of the Education Center, and acknowledged the challenge of designing an underground facility on the National Mall.

VVMF’s architectural firm, Ennead Architects, LLP has incorporated NCPC’s design concepts, guidelines and revisions into modifications to the original plans for the Education Center to secure today’s preliminary approval.

Preston Bryant, Chairman of NCPC said after the presentation, “We can see that you have improved and efficiently addressed previous comments.” He then moved immediately to have the motion approved.

With little comment or discussion, commissioners approved the building and site plans.  Today’s vote brings VVMF one step closer to final approval for the building and site plans, anticipated later in the Fall.

“Finalizing this process is a huge achievement for us, and we are moving forward with plans for the Education Center at The Wall,” said Jan C. Scruggs, Founder and President of VVMF. “We will continue taking the strides necessary to break ground on the Education Center in November.”

About VVMF and the Education Center at the Wall

The Education Center at The Wall is a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. With a groundbreaking planned for November 2012, the Education Center is a multi-million dollar, state-of- the-art visitor’s center and learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and Lincoln Memorials. Visitors will better understand the profound impact the Vietnam War had their friends and family members, their hometowns, and the nation. The Center will feature the faces and stories of the 58,282 men and women on The Wall, honoring those who fell in Vietnam, those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served.

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.

A clever wag noted that while the Army is at war, Americans are at the shopping malls. Of the U.S. population ages 18 and older, less than one percent is in uniform. The challenges they have faced are extraordinary. There are many skirmishes and some large battles fought by Marines in Iraq that are similar to those fought by Marines at Khe Sahn in South Vietnam. America’s troops are heroes. There are certainly questions about the wisdom of sending these fine citizens to places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam, but they go as requested by Congress and the President.

A young man from Honolulu was fighting in Iraq. He was an accomplished surfer who had recently completed his MBA. His name was First Lt. Nainna Hoe and as he approached a village by foot to assure the locals that he wanted to help them, the bullets began flying. Hoe was killed that day. His father was a decorated Vietnam veteran and when he was in Washington for a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, he met the nurse who tried to save his son’s life.

Ron Montapert was also a surfer. He served during the Vietnam War, and like Hoe, he did not come home. Montapert is a friend of Tom Selleck, our national spokesperson, who always looks at his friend’s name when he visits The Wall.

There are many stories like these. These veterans with their courage and sacrifice can inspire us all with their stories. The veterans of Vietnam have been at the hospitals and airports welcoming these soldiers home.

Back in 1982, I organized a parade for America’s Vietnam Veterans called ”Marching Along, Together Again.” Tens of thousands of Vietnam vets marched to their new Memorial–The Wall–that day. This year, the nation began a multi-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and we at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund are also commemorating the 30th anniversary of the dedication of The Wall. It would be my great honor to see Vietnam veterans march side by side with veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq to the Education Center at the Wall when we dedicate that building. We can do this in 2014.

The place will be both extraordinary and moving. The Education Center will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to teach generations of visitors about values like duty, courage, honor and integrity—ideals that have been foundational to U.S. military since 1775, when American troops first fought for freedom. The major vehicle for teaching these values will be photographs. The “Faces of The Fallen” display will present photos of fallen heroes—most of them from the Vietnam War, but also from the current wars. The photographs will be powerful, but not the only exhibit. Another will display some of the 300,000 items left at The Wall.

At an event in Jackson, Mississippi, people drove for hours to give a photo of a loved one to the Education Center. In New Mexico and North Dakota, veterans worked and collected all of the photos of their Vietnam War casualties. From Orlando to Seattle, grassroots Americans are at work. This effort is assisted by leaders in Congress, veterans groups, teachers, students, labor unions, state governors and more.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is trying to complete the fundraising effort and break ground in 2012. For now, the focus is on raising another $40 million and people are responding. VVMF staff and I meet regularly with people who see the value of this project and want to get it completed on schedule. That includes wealthy individuals and big corporations to dedicated patriots at the grassroots level. It is now a race against the clock.

This week, supporters are hosting a fundraiser in Maui attempting to collect $42,000 to honor the 42 Hawaiians who did not return from Vietnam. A single volunteer in Denver personally raised more than $120,000. A real hero is Australia, which donated more than $3 million. We are also meeting with other foreign governments who have an interest in recognizing the sacrifices their citizens made. Our own government is considering a financial assistance to build a facility that will actually produce revenue for the National Mall.

“The beginning of the end of war is remembrance,” wrote Herman Wouk. For the Americans fighting today in Afghanistan, there is little we can do except pray for their safety. But in 2014, we hope to have something that will really lift their spirits. With some luck, we can have the Education Center at The Wall built and plan a parade to bring together the veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Desert Storm, Somalia and other conflicts. Now that would be something for the nation to celebrate.

Bill Dyke retired from the U.S. Army as lieutenant general in 1988 after more than 34 years of service. He founded and is chairman and CEO of International Technology & Trade Associates, Inc., an international business consulting firm (www.itta.com).

During his service with the Army, Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal twice, the Silver Star twice, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit four times, the Purple Heart, the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (2ndClass) and numerous other U.S. foreign badges and awards.

As we observe the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, we reflect with solemn reverence upon the valor of a generation that served with honor. We pay tribute to the more than 3 million servicemen and women who left their families to serve bravely, a world away from everything they knew and everyone they loved. From Ia Drang to Khe Sanh, from Hue to Saigon and countless villages in between, they pushed through jungles and rice paddies, heat and monsoon, fighting heroically to protect the ideals we hold dear as Americans. Through more than a decade of combat, over air, land, and sea, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of our Armed Forces.

As a grateful Nation, we honor more than 58,000 patriots --their names etched in black granite -- who sacrificed all they had and all they would ever know. We draw inspiration from the heroes who suffered unspeakably as prisoners of war, yet who returned home with their heads held high. We pledge to keep faith with those who were wounded and still carry the scars of war, seen and unseen. With more than 1,600 of our service members still among the missing, we pledge as a Nation to do everything in our power to bring these patriots home. In the reflection of The Wall, we see the military family members and veterans who carry a pain that may never fade. May they find peace in knowing their loved ones endure, not only in medals and memories, but in the hearts of all Americans, who are forever grateful for their service, valor, and sacrifice.

In recognition of a chapter in our Nation's history that must never be forgotten, let us renew our sacred commitment to those who answered our country's call in Vietnam and those who awaited their safe return. Beginning on Memorial Day 2012, the Federal Government will partner with local governments, private organizations, and communities across America to participate in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War -- a 13-year program to honor and give thanks to a generation of proud Americans who saw our country through one of the most challenging missions we have ever faced. While no words will ever be fully worthy of their service, nor any honor truly befitting their sacrifice, let us remember that it is never too late to pay tribute to the men and women who answered the call of duty with courage and valor. Let us renew our commitment to the fullest possible accounting for those who have not returned.

Throughout this Commemoration, let us strive to live up to their example by showing our Vietnam veterans, their families, and all who have served the fullest respect and support of a grateful Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025, as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to honor our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA

Honoring American war heroes is a tradition as old as our great nation. We have learned lessons during every conflict and the lives lost have always given us pause before entering another battle of arms.

But more is required of us. Those who died in service of our great nation paid a great debt that cannot be fully repaid. We must give our all to honor those Americans who gave us their all. Yes, we should decorate their graves and hold somber ceremonies on Memorial Day each year, but we must tell the stories of the people they were, the lives they lived and the families they left behind.

Those stories are in danger of being lost forever if we don’t take action now to ensure they become a part of our collective national memory. Millions visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial each year. Tens of thousands gave their lives during the many years of conflict and their names are etched into the black granite. But they are more than names and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s next mission, 30 years after building The Wall, is to tell the story behind the names—the legacy of the fallen.

The Education Center at the Wall will provide a home for those stories so that future generations will be able to develop a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made by those in uniform during the Vietnam War, and also the sacrifices of all American service members and their families. The Center, which will be located on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and Lincoln memorials, will allow visitors to learn about the war they fought, but also about the lives they lived and the people they left behind.

Millions of Americans answered their nation’s call for service in Vietnam, just as they are today in operations worldwide. Among service members, a common thread of service bonds them no matter their era of service, branch or rank. Military families also feel camaraderie of mutual sacrifice. The connection, however, is so often lost among members of the general public who may never have had any direct experience with the military.

That connection must be strengthened and nurtured to ensure that the sacrifices of so many are not forgotten. The lessons learned in Vietnam and other past conflicts continue to influence our collective national consciousness as we move forward in our great nation built by all those who came before, not only in terms of military strategy and policy, but especially, as President Abraham Lincoln said in his second inaugural address, “to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.” We must care for our veterans and their families, and remember those we have lost.

This year the Department of Defense and our nation are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam. The legacy of the long and costly conflict lives on though the veterans who came home and the families of those who did not. Our society cannot forget those great sacrifices or the values those veterans exemplified through their service and heroism. On Memorial Day, we will gather at The Wall to honor and celebrate the lives of those who gave all for their country. You can watch this ceremony online or attend a Memorial Day ceremony in your community.

Lincoln’s words held significant meaning in 1865 as the nation was nearing the end of the Civil War and his meaning has spanned more than a century. Veterans of all eras must be cared for, honored and most importantly—remembered.

On May 13, the names of ten heroes were added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – “The Wall” – in Washington, D.C.  One of the names that was added was that of my older brother, David L. Deckard.

We called him Larry, and he died only recently, on January 6, 2006, of injuries he sustained 37 years earlier, in Kontum Province, Vietnam.  The intervening years were a living Hell for him, but – like all the agonies endured by so many in Vietnam – his suffering is rendered voiceless against the cold, black granite of the Memorial.

The Wall can’t record how, at 9:30 in the morning on March 24, 1969, as Larry drove an armored personnel carrier on a minesweeping mission, an enemy soldier emerged from the bamboo with a B-40 rocket-propelled grenade. 

The Wall is a moving and deeply inspirational memorial, but there’s no way a passerby can learn how the shrapnel tore through Larry’s shoulder, literally shearing it from his frame and paralyzing his abdomen and legs from the chest down.

When you visit the Wall, you’ll see the name “David L. Deckard” engraved into the granite, but not the fact that he was a strapping young lineman for the L&N Railroad before he was drafted.  Nor can you see him pulling himself up in a wheelchair with his one good arm, nor having to learn – over the course of six months of physical therapy – how to draw breath unassisted or to control his bowel movements.  

Had Larry sustained his wounds during World War II, or probably even during Korea, he would never have survived, but over the remaining 37 years of his life, he went on to make the best things.  Thanks to the training my brother John, our friends and I got in auto mechanics, we outfitted a series of cars with hand controls for him, and, on at least one occasion, he even managed to ride along on a friend’s motorcycle.  That’s the kind of man he was.  But The Wall, of course, can’t show that, either.

As a Vietnam veteran myself, I wish The Wall could somehow reflect how I felt upon returning Stateside in 1970 to the old Oakland Army Base.  I was proud of my service, and especially of my new Sergeant’s stripes, but I was told to change out of my uniform before heading to San Francisco Airport and the flight home. “Better you not call attention to yourselves,” we were warned.

There’s something else not shown by The Wall – nor by any other of Washington’s memorials to battles fought and lives lost. 

On September 16, 2005, my son, Matthew Deckard, then on his second tour of Iraq, was driving an Abrams tank on patrol in Baghdad when it struck an improvised explosive device, killing him almost instantly.  Matthew left a young wife and three little children, but his sacrifice (and theirs) goes unremembered.  There is no memorial to those who served in the Persian Gulf, nor Bosnia, Somalia, nor countless other places across the globe.

Fortunately, the full measure of both my brother’s and my son’s lives and heroics may soon finally be remembered, together with the sacrifices of all Americans who served in uniform, from Bunker Hill to Baghdad.

Organizers, who 30 years ago conceived and raised funds for The Wall, are now engaged in an effort to build an Education Center at The Wall immediately adjacent to it. 

As memories of the Vietnam experience grow dim and gradually fade away, the Education Center will remind future generations of the profound sacrifices our involvement represented, and of the lessons it should have taught. 

Using photographs, movies and audio, a multi-media “Wall of Heroes” will breathe life into the names on The Wall, reminding visitors that the 58,282 names they see in granite were once living, breathing individuals, with hopes and dreams of their own.  Perhaps only then can future generations appreciate the full measure of their sacrifice.

The Education Center, however, won’t be restricted to Vietnam in its focus.  Rather, it aims to honor the service of all who served our nation in uniform, at any time in our history.  In particular, it aims to remind the world of the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the Gulf and who, like my son, gave their lives there.

This week, a Vietnam veteran will posthumously receive the nation’s highest honor.

Spc. 4 Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. was a rifleman with the 101st Airborne Division when his platoon was ambushed on May 10, 1970 near the Se San River in eastern Cambodia.  The platoon was ambushed from all sides by a large enemy force, according to the Army, but Sabo charged the enemy position and killed several enemy soldiers. He drew fire away from friendly soldiers and forced the enemy to retreat by assaulting an enemy flanking force. While securing a resupply of ammunition, an enemy grenade landed nearby. Sabo threw the grenade and shielded a wounded soldier with his own body. He was wounded by the blast, but saved the life of the other soldier. Seriously injured by automatic weapons fire, he continued to fight. Sabo managed to crawl to an enemy emplacement and toss a grenade into the bunker. The blast silenced the enemy fire, but also killed Sabo. He is credited with saving the lives of several of his comrades in Company B, 506th Infantry.

Sabo’s unit nominated him for the Medal of Honor, but the paperwork was lost until Tony Mabb came across a file on Sabo while on a research trip to the National Archives military repository in College Park, Md. Mabb is a Vietnam veteran of the 101st Airborne Division and a writer for the “Screaming Eagle” association magazine. Mabb contacted his congresswoman, who recommended DOD reconsider a medal of valor for Sabo. Mabb also made contact with Sabo’s widow, Rose Mary Sabo-Brown, who lives in New Castle, Pa.

The Sabo family has been invited to the White House for the Medal of Honor ceremony, scheduled for May 16.

“The Leslie I know would give his life to anybody,” Sabo’s widow told Soldiers magazine. “He would. He would give you the shirt off his back. That’s the kind of man he was.”

Sabo’s photo and story, along with those of the other 58,282 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be included in the Education Center at The Wall. It will be a place where our military heroes’ stories and sacrifice will be honored. Many Americans weren’t alive during the Vietnam War and we must do more to educate current and future generations about the war these heroes fought and also the lives they lived. They fought for us and now we must do our part to ensure they are never forgotten.

This weekend we are honoring the 10 new names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Their families and friends will gather at The Wall as these men receive the recognition that some of the families waited years for.

But we will also be honoring the 12 service members who were previously designated as missing in action, but have been recovered, returned and identified in the last year. Their status designation is now killed in action.

One of those names is Gilbert Swain Palmer of Birmingham, Alabama. The Air Force colonel went missing in action on Feb. 27, 1968. The pilot and another crew member were assigned to the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Thailand and were on a photo-reconnaissance mission in Quang Binh, North Korea. Their RF-4C aircraft lost radio communication and crashed in an unknown location.

In 1999, a local villager led a recovery team organized by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command to a crash site in Savannakhet Province, near the Vietnamese border. They found wreckage from an RF-4 reconnaissance aircraft and during further investigation of the site, recovered human remains and military equipment specific to Palmer’s aircraft, according to the Air Force. Using forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the JPAC and Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory worked to identify the remains. They also used mitochondrial DNA, which matched that of Palmer’s brother Jim and identified the remains on May 19, 2011.

JPAC conducts global search, recovery and laboratory operations to identify unaccounted-for Americans from past conflicts. The command was activated in 2003 and is located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. They continue to search for the more than 83,000 Americans still missing from past conflicts, including nearly 1,700 from the Vietnam War. Since late 1973, the remains of over 700 Americans killed in that war have been returned and identified.

The additions bring the total number of names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to 58,282 men and women who were killed or remain missing in action.

The Department of Defense sets the criteria for and makes decisions about whose names are eligible for inscription on The Wall. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund pays for the name additions and status changes, and works with the National Park Service to ensure long-term preservation and maintenance of The Wall. For a complete list of names being added to The Wall this year, visit: www.vvmf.org/NameAdditions2012Press

Photos of all of these men will join those of the rest of their fallen comrades in the Education Center at The Wall, which is planned Washington, D.C. near the Lincoln and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. The Education Center will be a living, interactive learning facility that will teach the values, tell the stories and show the faces of those who served. It will also showcase the remembrances left in tribute at The Wall and celebrate the rich legacy of service in this country. For information about this latest VVMF initiative, visit www.buildthecenter.org.

Names Being Added to The Wall

PFC Johnny Owen Brooks, U.S. Army
Stockton, Calif.
Sept. 22, 1949 – Sept. 24, 2011
Date of Casualty: Nov. 14, 1969
Pfc. Brooks died as a result of wounds (combat or hostile related) sustained in the combat zone during the Vietnam War.

PFC Larry Morgan Kelly, U.S. Army
Akron, Ohio
May 22, 1949 – June 14, 2010
Date of Casualty: Aug. 22, 1969
Pfc. Kelly died as a result of his wounds (combat or hostile related) sustained in the combat zone during the Vietnam War.

SP4 David Lawrence Deckard, U.S. Army
Louisville, Ky.
Jan. 30, 1948 – Jan. 6, 2006
Date of Casualty: March 24, 1969
Spec. Deckard was diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure and the Army determined that his death was directly connected to his wounds received in Vietnam.

ATC Jospeh William Aubin, U.S. Navy
Bridgeport, Conn.
Dec. 14, 1929 – May 26, 1966
Date of Casualty: May 26, 1966
Navy records document that ATC Aubin and three other Sailors died while participating in a combat mission en route to a target within the defined combat zone.

ATR3 Richard Carl Hunt, U.S. Navy
Guys Mills, Penn.
July 2, 1942 – May 26, 1966
Date of Casualty: May 26, 1966
Navy records document that ATR3 Hunt and three other Sailors died while participating in a combat mission en route to a target within the defined combat zone.

LT Walter Allan Linzy, U.S. Navy
Nashville, Ark.
June 11, 1926 – May 26, 1966
Date of Casualty: May 26, 1966
Navy records document that Lt. Linzy and three other Sailors died while participating in a combat mission en route to a target within the defined combat zone.

ATR3 Richard Dwaine Stocker, U.S. Navy
Jacksonville, Ark.
April 17, 1945 – May 26, 1966
Date of Casualty: May 26, 1966
Navy records document that ATR3 Stocker and three other Sailors died while participating in a combat mission en route to a target within the defined combat zone.

LTJG David McLean Desilets, U.S. Navy
Palm Desert, Calif.
Oct. 16, 1940 – Sept. 4, 1966
Date of Casualty: Sept. 4, 1966
The Navy reviewed casualty and other relevant documents pertaining to the death of LTJG Desilets aboard the USS Pyro while steaming on ‘Yankee Station’ in the Gulf of Tonkin. The information confirmed that Desilets’ death occurred within the defined combat zone.

AN Albert Kalahana Kuewa, U.S. Navy
Honolulu, Hawaii
Nov. 14, 1941 – Sept. 18, 1964
Date of Casualty: Sept. 18, 1964
Wall Location:
The Navy reviewed records and determined that Airman Kuewa died while supporting combat missions against targets in North Vietnam.

CPL Frank A. Neary, U.S. Marine Corps
Ocean, N.J.
April 24, 1948 – Nov. 22, 2006
Date of Casualty: Feb. 24, 1967
Cpl. Neary died of a stroke due to an intracranial bleed, chronic thromolytic therapy and occluded bypass graft of his left leg. The Marine Corps reviewed the records and determined that he died of the wounds he sustained in combat in Vietnam.

Status Changes
Beside each name on the Memorial is a symbol designating status. The diamond symbol denotes confirmed death. The cross represents missing in action. When a service member’s remains are returned or accounted for, the diamond is superimposed over the cross. In addition to the 10 names being added this year, 12 designation changes will be made as well. They include:

• Army Capt. Charles Ronald Barnes of Fullerton, Penn., Panel 29W, Line 50
• Army Sgt. 1st Class William Theodore Brown of La Habra, Calif., Panel 16W, Line 22
• Army Sgt. 1st Class James Leslie Moreland of Anaheim, Calif, Panel 38E, Line 7
• Army Sgt. 1st Class Donald Monroe Shue of Kannapolis, N.C., Panel 16W, Line 24
• Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edward James Broms Jr. of Meadville, Penn., Panel 50W, Line 41
• Navy Cmdr. Frank Clifford Green Jr. of Waskom, Texas., Panel 1W, Line 55
• Air Force Col. Leo Sydney Boston of Canon City, Colo., Panel 7E, Line 7
• Air Force Maj. Thomas Edward Clark of Emporium, Penn., Panel 33W, Line 84

• Air Force Maj. Bruce Edward Lawrence of Phillipsburg, N.J., Panel 53W, Line 21

• Air Force Col. Gilbert Swain Palmer Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., Panel 41E, Line 53

• Air Force Lt. Col. Edward Dean Silver of Junction City, Ore., Panel 53W, Line 23

• Air Force Maj. Charles Milton Walling of Phoenix, Ariz., Panel 9E, Line 119