VVMF elects new chairman and five new board members

06-30-21

Washington, D.C. (June 30, 2021) — The Board of Directors of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is delighted to announce the election of a new Board Chairman and five new Board Directors. Alan Buckelew is the new chairman of the board of directors for VVMF. New board directors are Denis Faherty, David Hine, Miguel Howe, Michael McMahon and Norman Murray.

“It is an honor to be named Board Chairman and oversee VVMF’s continuing mission to honor all those who served and sacrificed in Vietnam,” said Board Chairman Alan Buckelew. “I’m pleased to announce the addition of these new Board members. They each have strong connections to the Vietnam era and the ongoing mission of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. As volunteer Board members, they are committing their time to ensuring younger generations remember the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and learn the lessons of that divisive time in our nation’s history.”

Alan Buckelew has been a member of VVMF’s Board since 2013. He served in the Army as an Infantryman in Vietnam from June 1969 – June 1970. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, two Bronze Stars and the Air Medal.  He later went on to a successful career in the cruise industry, serving as the CEO for Princess Cruises and COO for Carnival Corporation.  He resides in Los Angeles, California.

Denis Faherty retired from active duty in 2008 as a Captain after 39 years of service in the Navy. Captain Faherty, flying the F-4 Phantom, flew 150 combat missions. He was the last Navy combat veteran from the Vietnam War to retire from active service. He has 2,000 hours in Navy fighter aircraft and 500 aircraft carrier arrested landings. His combat awards include 9 air medals, 2 Navy commendation medals with “V” and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Faherty has been a champion for VVMF’s In Memory program for years, serving as master of ceremonies and keynote speaker.  He resides in Huntingtown, Maryland.

David Hine enlisted in the Air Force in March 1970 and served for 20 years, retiring in 1990 as a Senior Master Sergeant. For the last 10 years, he has been a tireless volunteer for veterans’ causes to ensure that those lost in his generation’s war are properly honored and never forgotten. As a Vietnam era veteran, he helped find photos for VVMF’s Wall of Faces,  assisted in bringing The Wall That Heals to his hometown on two occasions, and spread the word about the In Memory program.  His brother-in-law is remembered on the In Memory Honor Roll. Hine resides in Greenfield, Indiana with his wife, Sandy. They have one daughter, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Miguel Howe served in the Army for more than 24 years as an Infantry and Special Forces Officer. He retired as a Colonel after leading operations in Latin America, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Howe is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from Georgetown University. Most recently, he was the inaugural April and Jay Graham Fellow at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Howe is the son and son-in-law of Vietnam veterans, currently serving as a Partner at Cicero Group. Miguel is married and the proud father of two children on the pathway to national service.

Michael McMahon was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1969 after graduating from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, N.Y. McMahon served with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam. For nearly 20 years, he has been a volunteer at The Wall in Washington, D.C. as well as at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial. McMahon and his wife, Dolores, lived in West Windsor, N.J. and have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Norman Murray served as an interpreter-interrogator for the Army in the Americal Division in Vietnam in 1969-1970. Upon returning to the U.S., he finished college at New Mexico State University and later went to work with his father.  He became President and CEO of U-C Coatings Corporation in Buffalo, NY, until his retirement in 2014. He worked tirelessly to find photos for VVMF’s Wall of Faces in Western New York state. Murray and his wife, Thuy, spend a majority of their time working on veterans’ causes, including bringing The Wall That Heals to their local community.

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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