BECAUSE OF YOU: A LOOK BACK AT 2022

December 23, 2022 by VVMF

*The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Photo credit: Scott McLeod*

Because of you, VVMF can carry out its mission to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era.

A few highlights of what we accomplished in 2022 because of YOU:

As part of the 40^th anniversary:
- As part of the 40^th anniversary and for only the seventh time in The Wall’s history, VVMF hosted the Reading of the Names of each of the 58,281 names inscribed on The Wall. For 65 hours over four days – names were read by nearly 2,000 volunteers reading a list of 30 names.
- As part of the 40^th anniversary, produced the daily virtual Reading of the Names online. This effort involved the creation of 365 separate videos in one year. Names were read each day of those we lost on that day while sharing their photos from the Wall of Faces. This daily initiative to honor those on The Wall ran from November 7, 2021, through November 6, 2022 – the day before the in-person Reading of the Names began in Washington, D.C. The initiative has reached more than 1,000,000 viewers to date.
- As part of the 40^th anniversary and for the first time ever, the Veterans Day ceremony included both the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the VA as keynote speakers. Plans had to be changed at the last minute to prepare the event to take place during the passing of the remnants of a hurricane.
- As part of the 40^th anniversary, presented three Lifetime Service Awards at VVMF’s 40^th anniversary gala. The Honorable Chuck Hagel, entertainer Ann-Margret, and VVMF Founder and President Emeritus Jan Scruggs were honored for their many years of service to VVMF and Vietnam veterans.
- Published 40^th anniversary book The Enduring Legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Forty Years of Healing, which includes forty stories that reflect the many ways The Wall continues to impact our nation today.
- As part of the 40^th anniversary, hosted our first-ever In Memory Honor Roll Call event featuring the reading of the more than 5,000 In Memory honorees inducted from 1993-2021.
- As part of the 40^th anniversary, VVMF launched a traveling exhibit – Panel 44: Eight Days in March – that traveled to multiple locations including starting the year at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, National Museum of the U.S. Army, National Museum of the Air Force, Naval Aviation Museum and others. The exhibit includes the original Panel 44 East that was never installed as part of The Wall due to a crack, as well as videos and items related to the Vietnam War and The Wall.
- As part of the 40^th anniversary, VVMF compiled and posted monthly lists related to the Vietnam War and era. From topics ranging from 40 quotes about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to 40 iconic Wall of Faces images – each list appeared as a blogpost on the VVMF website.
Hosted nearly four million visitors at The Wall in Washington, D.C. including many veteran and student groups met by VVMF staff for tours and help with name rubbings.
Recognized the repatriation of one service member on The Wall who was accounted for in 2021 and changed his status on The Wall accordingly. His status change was recognized at our annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Completed the Wall of Faces through the tireless efforts of volunteers across the country. After more than 20 years, we now have at least one photo on our Wall of Faces for each service member whose name is inscribed on The Wall. (NOTE: there is always the possibility that we discover the wrong photo is posted for someone and we could go back to having a couple without a photo. Volunteers will work those as they pop up.) We continue to look for more and better photos and encourage family and friends to leave remembrances that help tell the story of each person lost.
The Wall That Heals exhibit was on the road for nearly 16,000 miles and visited 26 communities across the country during its 2022 season. We were escorted by nearly 3,000 vehicles into those communities, and we were able to spread The Wall’s healing legacy to more than 190,000 visitors. Guided tours of the exhibit were provided to nearly 9,000 students.
Honored 514 Vietnam veterans through VVMF’s 2022 In Memory program for those who served in Vietnam, returned home and later died. The ceremony was held on Father’s Day weekend, with more than 2,000 family members and friends in attendance. More than 5,600 Vietnam veterans have now been honored through the In Memory program.
VVMF’s online registry for all Vietnam and Vietnam era veterans to connect with each other continued to grow with nearly 1,000 veterans now part of the registry. Veterans can share and preserve their stories through the registry while connecting themselves to those on The Wall and in VVMF’s In Memory program.
Published 20 new episodes of our podcast Echoes of the Vietnam War in 2022, including our 40^th episode. Our podcast — which highlights personal stories of service and sacrifice from Vietnam veterans and their families — has been listened to more than 120,000 times in more than 140 countries.
Laid nearly 3,000 roses at The Wall on Father’s Day to honor the fathers on The Wall, those that never had the chance to become fathers, and those fathers who returned home from serving in Vietnam and later died.
Held our third annual Agent Orange Awareness Day on August 10^th – the anniversary of the first day that Agent Orange was thought to be sprayed in Vietnam. More than 1,800 orange candles were laid at the Memorial site, bringing awareness and encouraging others to do the same in the community. Videos shared from Agent Orange Awareness Day at The Wall have reached more than 8,000 views.
Held our second annual PTSD Awareness Day on June 27^th. More than 1,800 teal candles were laid at the Memorial site, bringing awareness and encouraging others to do the same in their community. Videos shared from PTSD Awareness Day at The Wall have reached more than 22,000 viewers.
Commemorated National Vietnam War Veterans Day with a ceremony at The Wall in partnership with Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) on March 29^th. The ceremony has been viewed more than 17,000 times online.
Completed the cleaning and care of the Three Servicemen Statue and In Memory plaque four times throughout the year through a professional Object Conservator.
Completed maintenance at The Wall including the resetting all of the cobblestones on the walkway and infill stones for the first time in 18 years at a cost of nearly $400,000. The cobblestones had become unlevel over the years and this work greatly reduces tripping hazards on the walkway.
Completed maintenance around the site of the Three Servicemen Statue including new plantings around the statue.
Shared education content with more than 1,200 individuals on our Teaching the Vietnam War and Era Facebook page.
VVMF’s education and outreach efforts included presentations on the Vietnam War and The Wall in classrooms, churches, conferences and museums across the country.
Completed and shipped nearly 3,200 free name rubbings for those that can’t make it to The Wall.
Expanded our reach on VVMF social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – sharing the stories of those who served and sacrificed in Vietnam with more than 8.4 million viewers.
Hosted more than 1.1 million visitors on our website, VVMF.org, to learn about the Vietnam War, those on The Wall and those who have died since returning home.
Hosted our annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies at The Wall to honor all those who have served and sacrificed.
Honored our “Yellow Hat” volunteers with an appreciation luncheon to thank them for many long hours spent at The Wall helping visitors.
Welcomed more than 6,000 new members to our In Memory Facebook community. Now, more than 18,000 family members, friends, and loved ones have a space to connect and share their stories of love and loss.