FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December XX, 2016
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Heidi Zimmerman
[email protected] or 202-765-3773
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Accepting Applications for
2017 In Memory Program that honors Vietnam veterans
who sacrificed after the war ended
Apply by March 3 to be included in the 2017 Ceremony
Washington, D.C. – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is now accepting
applications for Vietnam veterans to be honored at the 2017 In Memory ceremony on the
National Mall. VVMF’s In Memory program honors Vietnam veterans whose lives were cut short
as a result of their service in Vietnam, but are not eligible for inscription on The Wall under
Department of Defense guidelines. Causes of death that fit the criteria for inclusion in the In
Memory program include: exposure to Agent Orange, suicide, cancer, diabetes and heart
attack.
“The impact of the Vietnam War stretches far beyond the 58,315 names on the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. More than three million Americans served in Vietnam and an untold number
of those who served have suffered from service-connected illnesses. No one knew that when
the war ended, Vietnam veterans and their families would still be feeling the effects of their
service more than 40 years later. In Memory is our way to honor these Vietnam veterans for the
sacrifices they made,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF.
The application process is simple. To honor a loved one, you only need to submit the
veteran’s DD214 to show their proof of service in Vietnam, a copy of their death certificate and a
photograph. The application deadline to be included in the 2017 ceremony is March 3, 2017.
Applications can be submitted online at: www.vvmf.org/inmemory.
The In Memory Day ceremony will be held on June 17, 2017 on the East Knoll of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Family members and friends of honorees are
invited to participate and say their loved one’s name in a touching ceremony attended by
thousands.
In Memory began in 1999 and has honored more than 2,800 veterans. The In Memory
Honor Roll which includes a page for each veteran that has been honored can be accessed
online at www.vvmf.org/honor-roll. The plaque on the National Mall that honors these veterans
was dedicated as a part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 2004. It reads: In Memory of the
men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We
honor and remember their sacrifice.
The In Memory program is made possible by the generous contributions of VVMF
supporters. To make a donation to support the In Memory program or to learn more about the
program, please visit: www.vvmf.org/inmemory.
About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that founded the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead
the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is
to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the
impact of the Vietnam War and era.
VVMF is in the fundraising stages to build the Education Center at The Wall. The Center
will be an interactive learning facility on the National Mall where our military heroes' stories and
sacrifice will never be forgotten. The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the
more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall and honor America's Legacy of Service,
including those serving in our nation's armed forces today. Time Warner is the Lead Gift
Benefactor in the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall. To learn more about
VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.
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