NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2011

Join Us For The 2011 Build The Center Benefit - 11.11.11

Following the success of last year’s inaugural gala, VVMF will host the 2011 Build the Center Benefit on Friday, November 11, 2011 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, DC.

This intimate and exclusive awards dinner benefits the construction of The Education Center at The Wall and serves to honor individuals who have been visible, vocal and generous in their effort to bring greater awareness of the values of loyalty, duty, courage and service. 
This year's award recipients include: Author, Joseph Galloway and The Honorable Chuck Hagel.  RSVP NOW
From the President: Legacies of Texas Veterans Continue to Encourage and Inspire 
The dream we all share is to build the place on the National Mall where our military heroes’ stories and sacrifices will never be forgotten. All visitors to the Education Center at The Wall will be invited to share the stories, honor the history, and reflect on the values of the American patriots who have given so much. 
 
The grassroots efforts to build the Education Center often provide opportunities to spend time with the very people who are the living legacies of all we are working to forever honor. In September, San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt hosted a Call for Photos event and charity poker tournament to promote our efforts. The tournament was a great success, and as is always the case, truly extraordinary people joined us to support the effort, submit photos and share their inspiring stories.
The personal stories told by the friends and family members of the fallen who bring photos are always encouraging.  While in San Antonio I met Katherine Duke, one of six daughters of SFC Domingo Flores Morado, a native Texan who perished in Vietnam in May of 1969. With the help of G.I. grants, Katherine graduated from college and now teaches school in San Antonio. Another daughter, Maria Theresa, became the first Mexican-American woman ever to graduate from Yale University.  These remarkable accomplishments would not have been possible without SFC Morado’s sacrifice, courage, and sense of duty. 
 
However, the values of bravery, honor, duty and sacrifice are not exclusive to any single generation of patriots. Since the beginning of our nation, and continuing through the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, American service members have embodied the values the Education Center at The Wall will honor.
 
While in San Antonio, I was humbled to spend time with veterans and visit with hospitalized service-members who are recovering from their wounds. Major General Ted Wong, who commands Brooks Army Medical Center, provided a tour of the facility and introduced me to many young people, some of whom were very recently injured in Afghanistan.  It was my privilege to spend time with these outstanding men and women, all of whom will soon resume their contributions to this nation, either in uniform or out.
 
Inspiring people, amazing stories and positive outcomes like these shed light on the impacts veterans’ sacrifices have made, and will continue to make, on the lives of their families…and lives of all Americans.
 
Jan C. Scruggs
Founder and President

HISTORY® Joins VVMF To Support National Call For Photos

Partnership Launches Tuesday, October 11, 2011 During The Wall That Heals Visit to Military Island in NYC’s Time Square
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is proud to partner with HISTORY for a nationwide Call for Photos effort supporting the Education Center at The Wall, a place on our National Mall which will ensure that our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
HISTORY and VVMF will kick off this combined campaign with a ceremony in New York City at Military Island in Time Square, on Tuesday, October 11th (10:30 AM). During the ceremony, New Yorkers will be asked to participate in this national initiative to gather photographs and stories of the 58,272 men and women listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Special guests for the event include Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and Medal of Honor recipient Paul Bucha.
 
Read more about this partnership and the event in New York City by clicking here:  http://www.vvmf.org/history_joins_call_for_photos

National Call for Photos Presses On 

The National Call for Photos campaign has been highly successful to date – collecting over 21,000 photos.  The top states for collection include: Maryland, Mississippi, and North Dakota – each amassing over 94% of their state photograph goals.  Thanks to collaborative efforts from volunteers, staff, and the families of the fallen, VVMF continues to accumulate photos on a daily basis, ensuring that those who served and sacrificed are never forgotten.
These photographs will be displayed at the Education Center at the Wall  upon its completion, a memorial that will honor the service of veterans, the fallen, and their families for generations to come.  Additionally, the photos will help visitors put a face to a name on The Wall that will act as a tribute to those who sacrificed all in Vietnam. 
 
VVMF encourages anyone with photographs and memories of service members who fell in Vietnam to upload them here or send hard-copies to VVMF’s main office.
 

Deadline for Veterans Day Ceremony RSVPs Approaching 

On Friday, November 11, VVMF will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at The Wall.  This ceremony includes speeches by prominent Americans from both public and private offices, as well as the traditional laying of wreaths at its conclusion: a custom that has become a powerfully emotional experience.
 
Many Americans choose to become part of this event by registering to lay these symbolic wreaths at the Wall.  The experience fills them with a sense of pride and patriotism, and honors the sacrifices of veterans who have protected our dearest freedoms. 
 
Thanks to the generous support of supporters like you, this event is free and open to the public. 
To register individually or on behalf of a group, please click here.  The deadline for registration is Tuesday, November 8.  
 

Planned Giving Provides a Touching Glimpse of Generosity 

VVMF’s planned giving program has been generously bestowed with many heartfelt gifts from all over the country since the establishment of its “Wall Society” earlier this year.  Its members include those who have agreed to contribute significant portions of their wills, trusts, and assets toward VVMF’s ongoing volunteer and education programs.
 
The inspiration for these generous donations lies in the story of Mrs. Carol Haberchak, a long-time supporter of the Fund.  Mrs. Haberchak was deeply moved by the sacrifice of her first love, Warren Muhr, who sadly lost his life in Vietnam. 
 
Her efforts to find his burial site led her to VVMF’s “Virtual Wall,” where she was finally able to pay tribute to his service and heal the wounds that had scarred her for decades.  
 
These touching moments prompted Mrs. Haberchak to contact VVMF’s planned giving department, to which she endowed a large sum of her will.
 
Today, Mrs. Haberchak encourages others to follow her admirable footsteps.  In doing so, more and more people continue to support VVMF through generous donations of their wills, trusts, and assets, all of which have contributed to the healing and education of our nation.  
 
To learn more about planned giving opportunities and read Carol's story, click here.

VVMF Achieves High Charitable Ratings

VVMF has been recently distinguished with honors from some of the leading charitable research institutions as well as trusted consumer sources.
 
  • Great NonProfits, a nonprofit consumer review organization, gave VVMF a 5/5 rating, judged on unanimous assessments by its volunteers and contributors;  
  • VVMF’s financials, transparency, and program impacts earned 4/4 stars from Charity Navigator, and the GuideStar Exchange Seal of Approval;  
  • The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance awarded VVMF with its coveted Accredited Charity Seal of Approval based on a 20-point review of its effectiveness in doing business in a fair and honest manner.  

VVMF would like to thank its affiliates, volunteers, and contributors for their steadfast support.  These reviews are only possible in conjunction with their tireless and dedicated efforts.  To make a contribution to VVMF, click here.
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    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund takes our stewardship of your donations seriously. The programs we fund are designed to help us achieve our mission of preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War.