Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 05/01/2000

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Here's an update on the Vietnam War In Memory Memorial Plaque Project:

As your readers may recall, last November Rep. Elton Gallegly of California and a bipartisan group of 104 Representatives from 40 states and two territories introduced H.R. 3293 in the House of Representatives to authorize the ground-level In Memory memorial plaque we have proposed on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.. This plaque would recognize and honor veterans whose postwar deaths are attributed to their service experience, but who are not eligible to have their names engraved on The Wall.

The 'In Memory memorial plaque', bearing no names, would be inscribed to acknowledge and honor these "hidden casualties of Vietnam." It would be placed somewhere on the Memorial's 13-acre site, not at or near The Wall itself. 

The In Memory plaque is doing very well so far in the House of Representatives. The House Resources Committee approved H.R. 3293 April 5 and it had a majority of 260 co-sponsors as of Friday, April 7. Virginians in both houses of Congress, by the way, have all signed on as In Memory co-sponsors, although D.C.'s delegate had not as of this writing.

Co-sponsorship of the Senate In Memory plaque bill, S. 1921, introduced by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, had reached 30 by April 7, leaving 70 Senators who had not yet taken advantage of the opportunity to voice their support for the In Memory plaque and the veterans it is intended to recognize and honor. If you and your readers' Senators haven't yet signed on, please ask those Senators to support S. 1921.

Over the years many people have asked how they can help the In Memory Memorial Plaque project. Here's an assignment we hope your readers can help us spread across the country:

1. Write, call, email, or fax your U.S. Senators and Representatives. Urge them to become co-sponsors of S. 1921 if they have not already don so. Ask your Representative to support H.R. 3293. Please include your street address, to show you are their constituent. You can find sample letters and the official congressional links to your lawmaker's addresses through the In Memory website (http://members.aol.com/vietwarmem/plaque.htm) or write to them at the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515 and the U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510.

2. Send a Letter to the Editor of each paper in your area regarding the In Memory memorial plaque. (Most newspapers take email, postal, or fax submissions. Be sure to include your address and a day-time phone number.) A sample Letter to the Editor can be found at this address on our website.

3. Contact your local newspapers, TV and radio stations to let them know about the In Memory plaque project and the bills in Congress. Refer the media to the In Memory website for more information.

4. Help get the "hidden casualties of Vietnam" and the In Memory plaque project mentioned in upcoming Memorial Day ceremonies and other public events. Encourage people who attend to contact Congress in favor of H.R. 3293 and S. 1921.

Please ask your readers to copy this column and send it to their friends across the country, and use email if possible. One effective method, we have been told by a very successful grassroots worker, it to ask your friends who receive the column to forward it to at least seven of their friends, and so on. Also, print and give copies of this letter to people and encourage them to make copies and pass them to more people, etc.

Sgt. Shaft, last fall, with each passing day, it looked more possible that we'd soon be able to join in celebrating the dedication of the In Memory memorial plaque. This spring that seems even more true.

Thank you,
Ruth Coder Fitzgerald
President, The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc.

Dear Ruth:
This simple expression of remembrance by "a grateful nation" should be a Congressional no-brainer. A plaque honoring these "hidden casualties of Vietnam" will modestly echo those precious words of Bob Hope, "Thanks for the memories" and add "thanks for your sacrifice." For more information on making this cherished plaque a reality, contact Ruth at The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc., 808 Charlotte Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22041; phone 540-371-3253; email RCoderFitz@aol.com.

Shaft Kudos
Recently the National Association of State Directors for Veterans gathered here at the Nation's Capitol for their annual conference. This meeting is held every year for one specific purpose: to increase the state veteran representative's knowledge of veterans programs. The highlight of this year's event was the surprise presentation of the organization's Veteran Advocacy of the Year Award to Hershel Gober, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Good friend Hershel was recognized for his unwavering support of our nation's veterans. Although overwhelmed with his day-to-day responsibilities of serving as Deputy Secretary of the VA, Hershel always made himself available to meet with or take a phone call from those veterans in need. In addition to overseeing the federal government's second largest agency, with an annual budget of $41 billion and employing some 235,000 people at hundreds of VA medical centers, clinics, benefits offices and national cemeteries throughout the country, Mr. Gober personally led Presidential missions to Vietnam seeking resolution of POW and MIA issues. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary at the VA, Hershel served as director of veterans affairs for the state of Arkansas. He served two tours in Vietnam and received numerous decorations, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Soldier's Medal. And the walls of Congress, the Kennedy Center, and Constitutional Hall still echo with Hershel's memorable renditions of the Elvis tunes "In the Ghetto" and "Love Me Tender."

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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