For Immediate Release
 July 18, 2011

Contact: Sarah Stewart
SStewart@Vvmf.org

Direct: (202) 330-4952

National Partnership to Honor

637 Mississippians Who Fell During Vietnam War

WASHINGTON, DC – This Friday, July 22nd, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund of Washington, DC (VVMF) will proudly announce a new partnership to honor Mississippi’s 637 fallen Vietnam servicemen.  VVMF is the organization that built and manages the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – commonly called “The Wall” – on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

At the event, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial will officially announce their partnership by contributing over 600 photos of Mississippi’s fallen heroes to VVMF.  These photos will be displayed by VVMF in The Education Center at The Wall – a multi-million dollar, state of the art learning facility to be built on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the 58,272 men and women on “The Wall,” including the 637 from the State of Mississippi.

In 1995, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial began collecting photographs as part of their memorial in Oceans Springs, MS to recognize the importance of displaying the faces of their fallen brothers.  By receiving these photos from Mississippi, the Education Center will now be able to honor the sacrifices made by Mississippians who fell in Vietnam, those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served.  Anyone with a photo of a service member listed on “The Wall” is encouraged to bring their photo to the event.  It will be digitally scanned and later displayed in the Education Center at The Wall.

What:                “Mississippi Call For Photos Commemoration Ceremony” on Friday July 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 am

Location:           War Memorial Building, 120 South State Street, Jackson, Mississippi

Speakers:         Founder of the “The Wall” Jan C. Scruggs; President of the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dick Wilson; additional speakers TBD

Description:     30 minute speaking program followed by press availability. Event will feature: 

  • Enlarged photographs of some of Mississippi Hometown Heroes with remembrances left by family members, friends, and loved ones; 

  • Ceremonial presentation of photographs of Mississippi’s fallen heroes by the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial; 

  • Scanners on site to upload photos brought by veterans and family members. 

    • In 1979, Jan Scruggs conceived the idea of building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., as a tribute to all who served during one of the longest wars in American history. Today, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is among the most visited memorials in the nation’s capital.  VVMF’s campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall continues its mission to preserve the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, to promote healing, and to educate about the impact of the Vietnam War.

     

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