Memorial Fund Press Release

Memorial Fund Press Release

[Date]For more information:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASELee Allen

(202) 393-0090 ext.109

THE WALL THAT HEALSCOMES TO [Insert town]

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Speaks of ‘Healing Legacy’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each year, millions visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which honors the millions who served their country during the Vietnam War. Tens of thousands gave their lives during the many years of conflict and their names are etched into the black granite.

But millions of Americans, young and old, have not been able to visit what has become known to many as “The Wall.”Some haven’t been able to make the journey, for various reasons, to our nation’s capital and many others may find the war’s legacy easier to confront while at home in their own communities.

Every year on designated holidays, the nation pauses to remember those who gave their lives in service with ceremonies and parades, but that honor and respect must extend further. One way to honor the fallen and reflect on the service of the millions of Americans who came before is to visit The Wall That Heals. This exhibition features a 250-foot replica of the original memorial in Washington, D.C. and travels across America.

The exhibit is coming to [your town] on [insert date/time/location] and will be open to the public.

“The Wall That Heals transcends the Vietnam War to help our great nation renew its relationship with veterans of all wars,” said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of VVMF. “It helps veterans from all of America’s conflicts to find healing and a powerful connection through their common military experiences.”

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 conflicts 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.

Millions of Americans answered their national 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 the members of the general public who may never have had any direct experience with the military.

Since its inception in 1996, over 2 million people have visited the Memorial Fund’s traveling exhibit. It has made stops in nearly 250 U.S. locales in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the more than 3 million Americans who served with the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War. It is the most visited memorial in Washington, D.C., with over 4 million visitors each year. Its black granite walls bear the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

The Wall That Heals is open 24 hours a day beginning [insert local info]. There is no charge for admission. For more information, contact [insert local info].

VVMF coordinates local stops of The Wall That Heals and the accompanying museum and the tour is sponsored by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Trust, Federal Express, Geico, AON Corporation and New Century Transportation. [Insert local sponsors if needed]

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About the half-scale replica

Each of the aluminum replica’s two wings is approximately 123 feet long and meet at an angle of 121 degrees, rising to a height of approximately five feet at its apex. Each name is laser etched into panels of reflective black, powder-coated heavy aluminum supported by a structural aluminum frame.

A database of names and their precise arrangement on The Wall was created to engrave the panels. The database was then linked to a computer-operated laser system developed solely for the purpose of engraving The Wall That Heals. The system etched image areas of a specific size, requiring remarkably precise calibration across a wide field to match partially formed letters and lines.

Order of names

The names on The Wall That Heals replicate the names on The Wall in Washington, D.C. As on The Wall, the names are listed alphabetically by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back in to the center/apex. Thus, the beginning and ending of the conflict are joined at the center, signifying an epoch in American history.

The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community by a 53-foot, fifth-wheel trailer with cases built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a museum that tells the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history. The exhibition is sponsored by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Trust, Federal Express, Geico, AON Corporation, and New Century Transportation.

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, through a series of outreach programs, the organization works to preserve the legacy of The Wall, to promote healing and to educate about the impact of the Vietnam War and is building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground educational facility, near The Wall.

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