The Founder's Message

The names on the polished black granite panels of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial resonate in stone with those who served in Vietnam, those who lost loved ones and those who lived through the Vietnam era or who have some special connection to it. Their silent but eloquent message reminds us of the consequences of all wars and the universal themes of service, patriotism and sacrifice.

But to younger generations, who are the fast growing majority of the more than 4 million visitors to Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall experience lacks personal context. To many of them, it’s a short walk on a class trip, a brief stop in their visit to the nation’s capital.

Today we have a unique opportunity to change that.

After a grassroots effort involving thousands of individuals, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund received authorization from Congress to build an underground educational facility near The Wall.

This facility, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Center, commonly called the Education Center at The Wall, will give context to the names on The Wall and enhance the Memorial experience for current and future generations by teaching about the Vietnam War, its national significance and the impact of The Wall on American culture.

As Vietnam and subsequent military conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan loom large in our national psyche and America’s youth ask about the relevance of Vietnam to our history, we cannot let lessons learned and lives lost slip from our collective memory.

Now is the time to make the Education Center a reality and to help future generations connect our nation’s past with their future.

Jan C. Scruggs

Founder and President
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund