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The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Message from
James
G. Zumwalt
LtCol, USMCR (Ret)
Dear Fellow Veteran:
There are names that can only be imagined between the lines engraved
on the shining black granite panels of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in Washington, D.C. These names are imagined, for the most part, by
surviving family members and friends of Vietnam veterans whose postwar
deaths resulted from their wartime service in Southeast Asia.
Since the war, uncounted numbers of Americans who served their country
in Vietnam have died prematurely. Estimates vary, some significantly
exceeding the more than 58,000 acknowledged on The Wall.
Typically, these losses are attributed to such causes as Agent
Orange-induced cancers, the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) and other diseases only recently coming to light.
Statistics related to such deaths are not available from the
Department of Veterans Affairs, but in the words of the widow of one
of these unacknowledged postwar casualties, "There is a void at
the Wall."
Most of the names not engraved there are known only to family and
friends. They include my brother, Elmo R. Zumwalt III, a swift boat
commander who operated in the narrow waterways of Vietnam. Elmo's
death, from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, was attributed to his exposure to
the defoliant Agent Orange, sprayed along the river banks to deny
concealment to the Viet Cong.
Another veteran unacknowledged at the Wall is Lewis B. Puller, Jr, the
son of Marine Corps legend Chesty Puller. Lewis, grievously wounded in
Vietnam, was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography,
"Fortunate Son." Suffering from PTSD, he eventually ended
his own life.
My father, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., who commanded all US Naval
Forces in Vietnam at the time of my brother's service, had a strong
interest in establishing public, year-round, recognition of all
postwar casualties at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He served on the
Board of Advisors of the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc., the
organization formed to advocate a commemorative plaque on the grounds
of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Since my father's death on January
2, I have served in the same capacity, testifying before House and
Senate committees in support of legislation to authorize such a
commemorative plaque.
This summer, Congress unanimously supported our efforts and President
Clinton signed Public Law 106-214, directing the American Battle
Monuments Commission to collect funds and establish the plaque.
I am writing you to ask for financial assistance to support this
worthy endeavor which seeks to recognize a group of veterans who no
longer can speak for themselves. By law, the plaque must be funded by
private contributions, which are tax-deductible. We are seeking
donations from veterans and veterans groups. Accordingly, we would
greatly appreciate any donation you, or any veteran's organization(s)
you are affiliated with could make in memory of Vietnam veterans,
known or unknown to them, who will be acknowledged and honored by this
plaque. I make this request on behalf of these veterans, their
friends, their families, and all who recognize that America's Vietnam
Veterans Memorial will only be made complete by this plaque which
offers acknowledgment and appreciation for the extended sacrifices
exacted by the war. I ask that you forward this email on to other
veterans so they can be given the opportunity to support this project
as well.
The information below about plaque donations to the ABMC can be found
on the ABMC web site, http://www.abmc.gov/abmc7.htm
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL PLAQUE
U.S. CONGRESS AUTHORIZES ADDITION OF A COMMEMORATIVE
PLAQUE TO THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
On June 15, 2000, President Clinton signed Public Law 106-214,
authorizing the American Battle Monuments Commission to solicit and
accept private donations for the design, procurement and installation
of a commemorative plaque to be added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in Washington, DC.
The plaque will honor those veterans who died after their service
during the Vietnam war as a result of that service and whose names are
not otherwise eligible for placement on the Memorial wall.
The plaque will be placed within the existing 13 acre site of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Although its location, design and its
inscription have not been determined, the public law specifies that it
shall be at least 6 square feet and not exceed 18 square feet.
As noted above, the legislation specifies that the plaque will be
funded by private donations. Contributions will be placed in a
separate U.S. Treasury trust fund and used solely for the
establishment of the commemorative plaque.
Contributions in the form of checks or money orders should be made out
to "ABMC - VVM PLAQUE" and mailed to:
The American Battle Monuments Commission
Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500
Attn: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaque
2300 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
Col. Anthony A. Corea may be contacted with questions related to
funding for the plaque project at 703-696-6897 or coreaa@abmc.gov.
The ABMC web site Vietnam Memorial Plaque address is http://www.abmc.gov/abmc7.htm
Individuals, organizations and corporate donors to the ABMC are
invited to notify the In Memory Plaque Project of the fact (not the
amount) of their donation and the name of a specific veteran (or
veterans) for placement on a donor dedications page.
The web site of the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc. is http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm
Sincerely,
James G. Zumwalt
LtCol, USMCR (Ret)