Happy Anniversary to the Opening of the VietNam Memorial. From August 5, 1964 through March 28, 1973, many of you, our Veteran brothers and sisters were among the 8,744,000 active duty U.S. military personnel who proudly served our Nation during the war in Vietnam, with 2,594,000 of you serving within the borders of South Vietnam, some deployed as early as 1954 and leaving as late as 1975. The Vietnam Era also includes all Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam as early as February 28, 1961. The Vietnam Veteran Memorial was declared a National Memorial and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1982 in Washington D.C. On this day, thousands of Vietnam Veterans marched to the wall for the dedication during a week long salute to all Vietnam Veterans. The Memorial honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were Missing In Action during the War. The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the Three Soldiers statue, and the Vietnam Womens Memorial. Constitution Gardens, the main part of the memorial was completed in 1982 and is adjacent to the National Mall. The memorial is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service, and receives around 3 million visitors each year. The Memorial Wall was designed by American architect Maya Lin. The typesetting of the original 58,195 names on the wall was performed by Datalantic in Atlanta, Georgia.* -On April 27, 1979 – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), was incorporated as a non-profit organization to establish a memorial to Veterans of the Vietnam War. -On July 1, 1980 – Congress authorizes 3 acres near the Lincoln Memorial to be the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The memorial is to be managed by the National Park Service under its National Mall and Memorial Parks group. -On November 13, 1982 – Thousands of Vietnam Veterans march to Washington, D.C. for the Memorial dedication. Inscribed on the walls with the Optima typeface are the names of servicemen who were either confirmed to be KIA (Killed in Action) or remained classified as MIA (Missing in Action) when the walls were constructed in 1982. They are listed in chronological order, starting at the apex on panel 1E in 1959 (although it was later discovered that the first casualties were military advisers who were killed by artillery fire in 1957), moving day by day to the end of the eastern wall at panel 70E, which ends on May 25, 1968, starting again at panel 70W at the end of the western wall which completes the list for May 25, 1968, and returning to the apex at panel 1W in 1975. Symbolically, this is described as a wound that is closed and healing. The wall listed 58,191 names when it was completed in 1983; as of 2013, there are 58,286 names, including 8 women.* The Three Soldiers In 1984, the bronze Three Soldiers Statue was unveiled, created by Frederick Hart. The statue depicts the 3 Vietnam service brothers looking on in tribute at the names of their fallen comrades. Thank you for your service to our country and for your support. We are honored to serve you. Spending time with family & loved ones, festivities on the holidays & more...So many things are possible today because of you, our Veteran & Military heroes. We salute you brothers & sisters. Throughout history in times of both peace and war, yourselves and millions of other heroic U.S. Military personnel have proudly served our nation. VetFriends salutes, thanks and supports all of you, our U.S. Veterans, active & reserve military of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines & Coast Guard - All Heroes of our nation.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:59:17 +0000
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