VVMF

VVMF Fact Sheet

Based in Washington, D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1980 to build a national memorial dedicated to all who served with the U.S. armed forces in the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, today known as The Wall, was dedicated in 1982. Two years later, the bronze Three Servicemen statue and a flagpole were added to the site on the National Mall. The dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, to remember and honor the women who served in Vietnam, took place on Veterans Day 1993. The most recent addition to the Memorial site is the In Memory plaque, which honors those Vietnam veterans who died after service in Vietnam, but as a result of that service, and whose names are not eligible for placement on the Memorial because of Department of Defense policies. The plaque was dedicated on Nov. 10, 2004.

In November 2003, President Bush signed legislation authorizing VVMF to build an underground educational facility near The Wall. The Education Center at The Wall will honor the memory of Vietnam veterans and educate visitors about the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. In addition, the Education Center will celebrate the values exhibited by America’s service members, including: loyalty, duty, respect, service, honor, integrity and courage.

Since the dedication of The Wall, VVMF has continued to co-host annual Memorial and Veterans Day observances at The Wall with the National Park Service and takes an active role in assessing and providing for the long-term needs of the three-acre site. VVMF has also expanded its original mission and has developed a series of outreach programs dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, to promoting healing and to educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.

VVMF’s primary activities include:

Hosting ceremonies on Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, which allow the public throughout the year to remember and pay tribute to friends and loved ones whose names are inscribed on the Memorial.
Developing and distributing comprehensive and balanced educational materials that incorporate the lessons of the Vietnam War era to provide students with a greater sense of responsibility, leadership and global understanding. A multimedia curriculum, Echoes From The Wall: History, Learning and Leadership Through the Lens of The Vietnam War Era, was distributed free of charge to the nation’s 40,000 secondary schools.
Administering the Teach Vietnam Teachers Network, a select group of educators who serve as VVMF’s ambassadors, supporting and promoting its initiatives in their home states. VVMF provides educational materials and professional development opportunities for the members.
Coordinating and managing The Wall That Heals touring exhibition, featuring a half-scale replica of The Wall and a museum that takes the Memorial’s healing legacy to communities nationwide. Millions of people have visited The Wall That Heals since its 1996 inception.
Managing and cultivating membership in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Corporate Council, a distinguished group of leaders in business and government who advance and support the mission of VVMF.
Providing the public with an opportunity to learn more about the war, the Memorial and VVMF through our Web site: www.vvmf.org.
Maintaining the In Memory program that sets aside a day each year to honor those who served in Vietnam and died prematurely as a result of that service, but whose deaths do not fit the Department of Defense criteria for inclusion on The Wall. This includes deaths that may have resulted from exposure to Agent Orange or PTSD-induced suicides.
Providing nearly 100 Memorial volunteers with the necessary supplies to continue their useful work of honoring, healing and educating, and hosting an annual appreciation luncheon for these dedicated individuals.
Commissioning Memorial engineering studies, name additions and status changes.
Storing extra granite at Quantico Marine Base and purchasing commercial insurance for the Memorial.
Providing free name rubbings to the public.

VVMF is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to honoring our nation’s veterans and educating this and future generations about the impact of the Vietnam War. Gifts from the public and grants from corporations and foundations providing funding for VVMF’s outreach efforts.

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