Because of you, VVMF can carry out its mission to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era.

A few highlights of what we accomplished in 2024 because of YOU:

• Hosted more than five million visitors at The Wall in Washington, D.C., including many veteran and student groups met by VVMF staff for tours and help with name rubbings.
• Recognized the repatriation of four service members on The Wall who were accounted for in 2023 and changed statuses on The Wall and The Wall That Heals accordingly. Repatriations were recognized at our annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
• Presented two Lifetime Service Awards as part of the 2024 Veterans Day ceremony at The Wall. Robert Doubek, Vietnam veteran and the co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund who served as project director during the creation of the Memorial, and the late John Wheeler, Vietnam veteran and chairman of the board of VVMF during the creation of the Memorial, were honored for their many years of service to VVMF and Vietnam veterans.
• VVMF’s Wall of Faces – which features at least one photo for each service member whose name is inscribed on The Wall – was viewed 4.7 million times in 2024 and those online visitors left nearly 30,000 remembrances this year. More than 9,000 additional photos were submitted to the Wall of Faces by visitors and volunteers.  Each was reviewed, rated, and posted to the appropriate page as we continue efforts to find the best possible photo for those on The Wall.
• For the first time in its history, The Wall That Heals was displayed in Hawaii.  During two display weeks on the islands of Maui and Hawaii, more than 35,000 visitors were able to experience the healing and educational nature of The Wall.  With this complete, The Wall That Heals has been displayed in nearly 800 communities in 49 states and three countries since it debuted in 1996.
• In all, The Wall That Heals traveled nearly 20,000 miles (5,000 nautical and 15,000 land) as it visited 29 communities during the 2024 season. More than 3,000 vehicles escorted the exhibit into these communities where we were able to spread The Wall’s healing legacy to nearly 200,000 visitors. Guided tours of the exhibit were provided to more than 20,000 visitors, nearly half of whom were students.
• More than 100 communities expressed a desire to host The Wall That Heals in 2024.  In November, we announced 31 will have the opportunity during a nine-month tour season that will begin in March of 2025.
• As part of our 2024 In Memory Ceremony weekend, we inducted 656 new honorees. We welcomed more than 2,000 family members, friends and loved ones to Washington, D.C. for the induction ceremony. There were 500 guests in attendance at the In Memory Welcome Dinner.  There are now more than 7,200 Vietnam veterans honored through the In Memory program.
• Our podcast, Echoes of the Vietnam War, continues to grow its audience at an impressive rate.  Echoes has been listened to nearly 500,000 times since it launched in 2021, with this year’s 23 episodes accounting for 32% of that total.
• At The Wall, we sealed known cracks in the granite for more than half of all panels of The Wall. We repaired and replaced custom lights that were out along the walkway in front of The Wall and we ordered a granite walkway paver to replace one that became damaged, while obtaining additional stock for future maintenance.
• Replaced dozens of bushes around the Three Servicemen Statue and cared for the planting bed throughout the year.
• Cleaned and completed conservation efforts for the Three Servicemen Statue, Vietnam Women’s Memorial and In Memory Plaque several times throughout the year.
• In the fall of 2024, we launched a new phone app – Find A Name – for volunteers and visitors to be able to find the location of a name on The Wall. The app can be used with or without internet service.
• Laid more than 3,300 roses at The Wall on Father’s Day to honor the fathers on The Wall, those that never had the chance to become fathers, and those fathers who returned home from serving in Vietnam and later died.
• Held our fifth annual Agent Orange Awareness Day on August 10^th – the anniversary of the first day that Agent Orange was thought to be sprayed in Vietnam. More than 1,800 orange candles were laid at the Memorial site, bringing awareness and encouraging others to do the same in their local communities.
• Held our fourth annual PTSD Awareness Day on June 27^th. More than 1,800 teal candles were laid at the Memorial site, bringing awareness and encouraging others to do the same in their local communities.
• VVMF’s online registry for all Vietnam and Vietnam era veterans to connect with each other continued to grow with more than 2,000 veterans now part of the registry. Veterans can share and preserve their stories through the registry, while connecting themselves to those on The Wall and in VVMF’s In Memory program.
• Commemorated National Vietnam War Veterans Day with a ceremony at The Wall in partnership with a previous The Wall That Heals host – Upper Providence Township in Pennsylvania – on March 29^th.
• VVMF’s education and outreach efforts included presentations on the Vietnam War and The Wall in classrooms, churches, conferences and museums across the country.
• Completed and shipped nearly 3,000 free name rubbings for those that can’t make it to The Wall.
• Welcomed more than 4,000 new members to our In Memory Facebook community. Now, more than 26,000 family members, friends, and loved ones have a space to connect and share their stories of love and loss for peer-to-peer support.

Thank you for making this all possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

Thank you for making this all possible. We couldn’t do it without you!