STATEMENT OF
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
SUBMITTED BY JIM DOYLE, CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RECREATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES REGARDING S.1921 TO AUTHORIZE THE PLACEMENT WITHIN THE SITE OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL OF A PLAQUE TO HONOR VIETNAM VETERANS WHO DIED AFTER THEIR SERVICE IN THE VIETNAM WAR, BUT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT SERVICE. APRIL 27, 2000
INTRODUCTION
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak here today in support of the In Memory Plaque project. The In Memory organization seeks to have a memorial established to recognize and honor those veterans who have died as a result of service in Vietnam, but are not eligible to have their name placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
I am Jim Doyle, Chair of the Public Affairs Committee for Vietnam Veterans of America. VVA is the only Congressionally chartered veterans service organization representing the veterans of that war. Our members have a close personal bond with The Wall and would never support any project that would detract from the dignity of this noble site. There are those who will argue that the In Memory Memorial Plaque would detract from The Wall, but we respectfully disagree. VVA believes that this plaque will add to the overall meaning and impact of the thirteen (13) acre Vietnam Veterans Memorial site.
REMARKS
It is appropriate that we address this issue on the eve of the 25th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War.
Everyday in this country the obituary pages contain the names of Vietnam veterans who have died as a result of their service in Vietnam. Whether the cause is Agent Orange related cancer, a self inflicted bullet wound to the head, or liver failure as a result of Hepatitis C it is clear that the Vietnam War continues to claim victims. Yet these brave men and women who served their nation honorably are not memorialized anywhere except for the hearts and memories of their families and friends. When I served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970 the mantra of the military was simple - we dont leave our buddies behind. We didnt then and we certainly dont intend to now.
These silent casualties of the war deserve the same recognition that their fallen comrades have been given since November 11, 1982 when the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was given to the American people. Since then thousands of family members, friends, and fellow veterans have come to Washington to touch the name, the spirit, the authenticity of their loved one at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Each day we receive inquiries from family members asking how can they get the name of their father, brother or sister included on The Wall? They tell us stories of the tragedy of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it has robbed them of their veteran. We must tell them that there isnt any way for the name to be included on The Wall. We must tell them that there is no memorial to the sacrifice of their father, mother, husband or brother.
There are those out there who claim that any addition to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is unwarranted and unneeded. They said the same thing about consideration of the Vietnam Womens Memorial. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.
VVA has supported the In Memory Plaque project since it was first proposed to us in January 1998 when Ruth Coder-Fitzgerald made a presentation to our Public Affairs Committee. We have all experienced the untimely death of a fellow Vietnam veteran and understand the sense of loss and the need to know that there is some place where their service is recognized.
We believe the In Memory Plaque is an appropriate and necessary addition to the grounds of the VietnamVeterans Memorial. VVA believes that to not respect the sacrifice of those who served with honor and came home, only to die years later as a direct result of their service in Vietnam is to dishonor all those who served.
We also believe that the appropriate agency to oversee the selection, placement and maintenance of the In Memory Plaque is the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The Commission has a long history of excellence in its role as sentinel and conservator of the shrines which pay due honor and respect to our nations history in battle.
In 1923Congress established the ABMC to administer, operate and maintain American Armed Forces Memorials, both at home and abroad. The Commission has been responsible for commemorating the services of the American Armed Forces since April 6, 1917, through the establishment of suitable memorial shrines including design, construction, operation and maintenance of permanent American military burial grounds in foreign countries. In the United States there are five Armed Forces Memorials and one, The World War II Memorial, in planning. The Commission is also responsible for constructing the Allied Expeditionary Forces Memorial in Washington, DC.
VVA urges the Committee to do the right thing by approving this worthwhile project.We further urge prompt passage of S. 1921 by this Committee and full United States Senate. In addition, the qualitative and quantitative experience of the ABMC strongly suggests they are the appropriate agency to supervise this very important addition to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
In closing I want to thank the Committee for the opportunity to speak on behalf of VVA in support of the In Memory Memorial project.Are there any questions from the distinguished members of the Committee that I might answer?
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA Funding Statement April 27, 2000 The national organization Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is a non-profit veterans membership organization registered as a 501(c)(19) with the Internal Revenue Service. VVA is also appropriately registered with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives in compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
VVA is not currently in receipt of any federal grant or contract, other than the routine allocation of office space and associated resources in VA Regional Offices for outreach and direct services through its Veterans Benefits Program (Service Representatives). This is also true of the previous two fiscal years.
For Further Information, Contact:
Vietnam Veterans of America
(202) 628-2700
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