News Release

Vietnam Women’s Memorial to Commemorate 25th Anniversary

Date: October 31, 2018
Contact: Brent Everitt, [phone]

Vietnam Women’s Memorial to Commemorate 25th Anniversary

Veterans Day weekend events set to honor women veterans of the Vietnam era
Washington, D.C. — This Veterans Day weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall. To commemorate this milestone, a weekend of poignant events will honor the service and sacrifice of the 265,000 women veterans—military and civilian—who served during the Vietnam era.

Hosted by Eastern National in coordination with the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Advisory Group, the National Park Service, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, programs will include a candlelight ceremony on Saturday evening, November 10, 2018, at 6 pm and a storytelling program on Sunday morning, Veterans Day, November 11, 2018, from 9 am to noon. The weekend will culminate in a 1 pm Veterans Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where the annual Observance at the Wall will be dedicated to the commemoration of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial’s 25th anniversary.

The master of ceremonies for the Veterans Day Observance at the Wall will be Diane Carlson Evans, chair of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Advisory Group and founder of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. A former army combat nurse and Vietnam veteran, Ms. Evans led a 10-year mission to complete the circle of healing and place a memorial on the National Mall to the women who served in the Vietnam era. With its 1993 dedication, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial became the first in the nation’s capital to recognize the service of military women—as well as the patriotic service of civilian women—to their country.

Other noted speakers include Jim Knotts, president and CEO of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; Patricia Trap, acting superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks; and Vietnam veterans Allen Hoe, civilian aide to the secretary of the army, and Colonel A. Jane Carson, USA (Ret.).

Anniversary events are open to the public and will be held on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall; the candlelight and storytelling programs will take place at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial statue, 300 feet from the Wall. View the full schedule of events at VietnamWomensMemorial.org.

About the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Advisory Group

In 2015, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation became the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Advisory Group when it joined Eastern National. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial Advisory Group supports Eastern National in its dedication to honoring the women who served during the Vietnam era. For additional information on the memorial, related educational programs, research on women who served in the Vietnam era, and commemorative products please visit the Vietnam Women’s Memorial website at www.VietnamWomensMemorial.org. To learn more about the founder of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial and her efforts, visit www.dianecarlsonevans.com.

About Eastern National

Eastern National, a not-for-profit cooperating association, promotes the public’s understanding and support of America’s national parks and other public trust partners by providing quality educational experiences, products, and services. Since 1947, Eastern National has provided over $149 million to the National Park Service in the form of direct and in-kind aid to parks that support vital educational and interpretive programs. Learn more at www.EasternNational.org.