Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center National Campaign

.PRESS RELEASES

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL CENTER (PDF)

READING of NAMES (PDF)

Introduction:

Sons and Daughters In Touch (SDIT), an organization for the adult children of U.S. military members who served and died in the Vietnam War, has started a national campaign to generate awareness and support for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center . The SDIT campaign’s official launch will coincide with the 25^th anniversary observance of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in November. It will conclude with the presentation of a ceremonial check to Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) officials during the annual Father’s Day Rose Remembrance Ceremony at The Wall next June.

It is worthy to note that the SDIT capital campaign is the first organized by a private, nationwide grassroots organization (other than VVMF) to support the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center .

Following are the specifics of the SDIT campaign, including how it will be operated, who will be involved, its stated fundraising goal and how to participate:

WHO:  SDIT, its individual members will work together to raise funds earmarked toward defraying the costs to construct the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center .

WHAT:  A national campaign to benefit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center . The campaign’s theme is “Honoring Every Name on The Wall.” There are more than 58,000 names on The Wall, and the campaign’s initial goal is to provide $58,256 (a dollar  for each name) to the Memorial Center . SDIT leaders and volunteers are confident that this campaign will be embraced by SDIT members and their families and ultimately will lead to a six-figure gift being given to the Memorial Center . Monies raised will be presented to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s “Campaign to Build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center ” on Sunday June 15, 2008 to coincide with the Father’s Day Observance at The Wall. This campaign is the most ambitious project undertaken by SDIT, its individual members and local chapters in the organization’s 20-year history.

WHEN:  This SDIT campaign will be announced “officially” during the week of the 25^th observance of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from November 6 through 11 in Washington , D.C. From that time until the middle of June 2008, SDIT and its individual members will solicit donations in their communities and from supporting/partnering organizations.

WHERE:  Fundraising events will be conducted in communities throughout the country. Individual SDIT members will organize, plan and execute these community-based fundraising events. In addition, SDIT will solicit donations to this national campaign from corporations, veterans organizations and other groups.

WHY:  To support the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center and to help defray a portion of the cost to construct the center. SDIT and its members are strong supporters of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the soon-to-be-built Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center . SDIT individual members have an emotional and familial attachment to The Wall as their tagline suggests: “They Were Our Fathers.” They strongly support the construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center because it will celebrate the lives of their fathers as well as ensure that future generations understand the real sacrifices their fathers and their families have made for the United States and its people.

The Memorial Center will be built underground, near the three-acre Vietnam Veterans Memorial site. The Center’s groundbreaking is expected in 2010, with construction being completed within 18 months

The Center will allow visitors to learn the importance of the Memorial, its role in helping to remember those who served and the vital part it played in helping to heal the deep societal divisions resulting from the Vietnam War. The Memorial Fund hopes the Center will encourage citizenship and an appreciation of those who have served and continue to serve in America ’s armed forces.

Visitors to the underground Memorial Center will see:

• Displays related to the history of the Memorial.
• A Wall of Faces showing pictures of the service members whose names are on The Wall.
• Collections of the personal items placed at The Wall over the years.
• A timeline of the Vietnam War.
• A resource center featuring additional exhibits and an area to find more in-depth information.
• A display showing a sequence of images of those who gave their lives in different wars throughout America 's history, including present conflicts.

The Center will facilitate self-guided tours for students and groups.  It will also serve as a facility for the collection of written and digital remembrances of the individuals whose names are inscribed on The Wall, thereby creating a unique historical record for current and future generations of Americans.

More information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center can be found on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Web site at www.vvmf.org under the Memorial Center News section on the upper right corner of the page.

HOW:  SDIT is looking to its individual members and their extended families and friends to provide individual contributions to honor their fathers’ names. At the same time, it is encouraging individual SDIT members to conduct fundraisers in their local communities across the country. For individual members, SDIT will be providing a toolkit that will provide fundraising event ideas that can be implemented easily, quickly and with little or no cost. SDIT also will solicit donations from corporate sponsors as well as supporting/partnering organizations. The capital campaign will conclude in the middle of June 2008. At that time, monies collected by SDIT and its individual members will be combined for presentation to VVMF’s “Campaign to Build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center ” during the Father’s Day Rose Remembrance Ceremony at The Wall.

There are two ways to contribute today:

1)     Visit the SDIT Web site at www.sdit.org and contribute through SDIT’s PayPal account;

2)     Send a check to SDIT at P.O. Box 100366 , Arlington , VA 22210 .

Please make sure to indicate on checks and online that contributions are in support of the “Honoring Every Name on The Wall” campaign. Donations are tax-deductible.

Conclusion:

SDIT volunteer leaders and officials are enthusiastic about this national campaign. The SDIT membership is energized about raising funds to support the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center and its goal to raise awareness regarding those individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country. Through this national campaign SDIT members will exhibit their determined support for the Memorial Center by “Honoring Every Name on The Wall.”

Contact:

For more information about SDIT’s “Honoring Every Name on The Wall” campaign, contact SDIT Founder & Chairman Tony Cordero at tony@sdit.org. The SDIT Web site (www.sdit.org) will be updated regularly with information about this effort.

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