The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in Washington, D.C., has coordinated with local organizations and volunteers nationwide in a call for photographs and back stories of Vietnam War veterans listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in the nation’s capital. The photos and stories will become featured exhibits inside The Educational Center at The Wall.
In 2003, legislation passed that authorized the construction of the Educational Center at The Wall by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. In addition to pictures and stories of individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam, the exhibits at the center will include a sampling of some 400,000 items left at The Wall and a celebration of service member values in all wars.
Out of more than 58,000 men and women who did not return from the Vietnam War, approximately 26,000 Vietnam veterans listed on The Wall still need corresponding photographs and stories.
The call for photos is tied to the “Faces Never Forgotten” campaign, encouraging friends and families of veterans, as well as every citizen, to ensure that the memories and stories of those inscribed on The Wall are never forgotten. VVMF aims to give every soldier the honor of being fully remembered as a person and not just a name.
According to Jan C. Scruggs, President and Founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, his group seeks to complete its mission “to preserve the legacy of The Wall, promote healing and educate about the impact of the Vietnam War” as they finish construction of the Education Center. To that end, they will continue to depend on the dedication and generosity of those individuals, organizations and communities that make it their goal to honor heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice and contribute in their honor.
Now under construction, if all goes according the schedule, the center is expected to be completed sometime in 2014.
For information about the Education Center at The Wall or submitting a photo, visit www.vvmf.org or call (866) 990-WALL.
Images courtesy of Bianca Bahary
