VVMF Board of Directors elect five new board members

07-02-19

Washington, D.C. (July 2, 2019) — The Board of Directors of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is delighted to announce the election of five new Board Directors – Sharon Bannister, Francis (France) Hoang, Marty Marks, Allen McCabe, and Kim Mitchell.  More information about each new Board member is included below.

“We’re pleased to add these new Board members,” said Board Chairman John Dibble.  “They each have strong connections to the Vietnam era and the ongoing mission of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.  The Vietnam War still impacts our country in many ways, affecting families and friends.  As volunteer Board members, they are committing their time and talents to insuring current and future generations remember the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and learn the lessons of that divisive time in our nation’s history.”

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Sharon Bannister, U.S. Air Force, is a Gold Star daughter.  Her father, Air Force Captain Stephen Rusch, is remembered on panel W2 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.  Dr. Bannister also serves as a volunteer at The Wall, helping visitors find names and understand the memorial design.  Dr. Bannister and her sister jointly served as keynote speakers for the Memorial Day Ceremony at The Wall this year.

Francis (France) Hoang and his family were evacuated from Saigon in April 1975 when he was under two years old.  His family settled in Washington state.  Mr. Hoang went on to graduate from West Point, served in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, and was an Associate White House Counsel.  He now is a business leader, having been a part of several entrepreneurial ventures.

Marty Marks is a Gold Star daughter.  Her father, Army Brig. Gen. Richard J. Tallman, is remembered on panel W1 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.  As an Army wife for 30 years, Mrs. Marks supported soldiers and their families through a variety of programs. Her support continues to this day.

Allen McCabe has been a volunteer at The Wall for more than 18 years, giving more than 10,000 hours of his time to helping visitors at the Memorial.  Mr. McCabe has been involved in many activities over the years to support the Memorial and the remarkable team of Volunteers who work there.  He was in the 1972 draft lottery for Vietnam.  Mr. McCabe lives in the D.C. area and works as a Vice President for Hughes Network Systems in Germantown, Md.

Kim Mitchell is Vietnamese by birth, but was adopted by an American airman and grew up in the U.S.  After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Ms. Mitchell served in the U.S. Navy for 17 years as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard surface ships and at shore commands. Her last two years on active duty were as the Deputy Director for the Office of Warrior and Family Support, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  She was the President of the nonprofit Dixon Center for five years and a Consultant to the Department of Defense for three years assigned to the Department of Defense 50 Year Vietnam War Commemoration Committee.  Ms. Mitchell currently serves as the President and CEO of Veterans Village of San Diego.

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. To learn more about VVMF, visit http://www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.

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