|
Contact: Mike Litterst, 202-245-4676
Washington, D.C. –The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and the National Park Service (NPS) will host the annual Memorial Day ceremony to pay tribute to members of America’s armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Nearly a dozen Medal of Honor recipients are expected in attendance as the United States Postal Service (USPS) will dedicate the 2015 Medal of Honor: Vietnam Forever® stamps as part of the ceremony. The event will be held at The Wall on Monday, May 25, at 1:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Col. Jack Jacobs, USA (Ret.) and Medal of Honor recipient, will present the keynote remarks and pay tribute to the men and women who have fallen in service to their country. The Medal of Honor is our nation’s most prestigious military decoration. It is awarded by the President of the United States on behalf of Congress to members of the armed services who distinguish themselves through “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States. Of the millions of U.S. service members who served during the Vietnam War, only 258 were awarded the Medal of Honor. Most award recipients made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives while performing the courageous acts for which they were later honored. The emcee for the ceremony will be Jim Knotts, CEO of VVMF. Jan Scruggs, founder and president of VVMF, will provide the opening remarks followed by Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Gary Beikirch, USA (Ret.) giving the invocation. David E. Williams, COO & EVP of the United States Postal Service will speak on behalf of USPS. Sean Kennealy, acting superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks will speak on behalf of NPS and Diane Carlson Evans, founder and president of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation, will make remarks. The United States Army Military District of Washington will provide the Armed Forces Color Guard for the ceremony. The winner of VVMF’s student video contest, Sean Quinn, will lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The traditional wreath laying ceremony will be held with bagpiper Chris Jackson playing “Amazing Grace”. The ceremony will end with the playing of TAPS by SSgt Jeffrey Strong of the United States Marine Band. The 2015 Memorial Day Ceremony at The Wall is generously sponsored by the Xerox Foundation. About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF is dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing and educating future generations about the impact of the Vietnam War through programs, ceremonies and education. Three decades later, the mission continues as VVMF raises funds to build the Education Center at The Wall. The Center will be an interactive learning facility on the National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall and honor America's Legacy of Service, including those serving in our nation's Armed Forces today. The lead gift for the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall was provided by Time Warner, Inc. To learn more about VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall, visit www.vvmf.org or call 866-990-WALL. - See more at: http://www.vvmf.org/news/article=VVMF-to-Honor-Sacrifice-and-Pay-Tribute-to-Medal-of-Honor-Recipients-at-Memorial-Day-Ceremony-at-The-Wall#sthash.cBbHtbb9.dpuf |
Last updated: May 19, 2015