For Immediate Release June 2, 2011

CAMPAIGN TO GATHER PHOTOS OF EVERY PERSON FROM HAWAII ON THE
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL KICKS OFF JUNE 3
Event begins at 11 a.m. at U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii

Washington, D.C. — A campaign to gather all 276 photos of the people from Hawaii whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. will kick off on Friday, June 3, at 11 a.m. at the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii at Fort Derussy, Oahu.

Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), will be the featured speaker at the event, which was organized to gather photos and stories of the people from Hawaii whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as well as create awareness and support for the Education Center at The Wall, a visitors and learning facility being built near the Vietnam Veterans and Lincoln Memorials in Washington, D.C.

“The stories of the people who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam are stories of courage and honor,” said Scruggs. “The 276 from Hawaii who answered their country’s call are a source of pride for your entire state. We honor them today, and we will honor them for years to come in the Education Center.”

Scruggs will be joined at the kickoff event by family and friends of some of the native sons whose photos and stories are being collected. They include:

• Lorna Taitano, whose brother, Donald F. Marshall II, is honored on Panel 40E, Row 25 of the
  Vietnam Veterans Memorial;
• Billie Gabriel, whose brother, James "Kimo" Gabriel Jr., who is honored on Panel 1E, Row 8;
• Members of the Maui High School Class of 1965, who will be honoring classmate Walter Browne,
  who is honored on Panel 20W, Row 85; and
• Representatives from the University of Hawaii Army ROTC, who will be donating photos of: Thomas
  Blevins (Panel 6E, Row 88); Frank Rodriguez (Panel 47E, Row 6), Kenneth Good (Panel 1E,
  Row 15); and Brian Kong (Panel 5W, Row 125).

Also participating in the ceremony will be Kahu Manu Mook, a Vietnam veteran who is also a native Hawaiian cultural artist who specializes in Hawaiian spiritual practices. He will play the conch shell to begin the event.

The Education Center at The Wall is a learning facility being built in the nation’s capital near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It was conceived as a way to put faces to the thousands of names on The Wall, to educate current and future generations about these honorable men and women who gave everything for their country and to tell their stories. Other exhibits will showcase some of the 150,000 items left at The Wall in tribute, provide a timeline of events for the Vietnam War and the building of The Wall, examine the service and sacrifice of special groups of people, and celebrate the values embodied by all of America’s service members.

Of the 276 people from Hawaii whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, VVMF estimates it has collected about 55 of the photos already.

Anyone who has a photo or story about a loved one whose name is on The Wall is asked to share them with VVMF for the Education Center. Visit www.vvmf.org/pafwan to learn how to participate. All photos and remembrances contributed for the Education Center will also be shared immediately on VVMF’s Virtual Wall. Each person whose name is on the Memorial has a profile page on this site. Visit www.vvmf.org/thewall to find the profile page for your loved one. To learn more about the Education Center at The Wall, visit www.buildthecenter.org.

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.  Authorized by Congress, its most recent initiative is building The Education Center at The Wall, an underground facility near the Memorial that is designed to help visitors discover the stories of those named on The Wall and celebrate the values embodied by all service members who served in all of America’s wars. Other Memorial Fund initiatives include educational programs for students and teachers, a traveling Wall replica that honors our nation's veterans and six events held each year at The Wall to honor and remember those we lost during the Vietnam War.
 

For more information, contact:
  In Hawaii:   In Washington, D.C.:           
                      Jason Cain
(910) 584-4018		                                        Lisa Gough
(202) 330-4950
Social Media Header



Search the Site

Enter your search term below



Tour the Center


Our Charity Ratings

    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund takes our stewardship of your donations seriously. The programs we fund are designed to help us achieve our mission of preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.