Father Rick Curry, the founder of the Writers Program for Wounded Warriors, will deliver remarks at the traditional Memorial Day ceremony held at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Front and Spruce streets.
The noon ceremony on Monday, May 31, will also feature “echo taps” by two Philadelphia Police buglers and a two firing squads from the VVA Chapter 266 and the police. Wreaths will be presented and a stirring rendition of “Danny Boy” will be sung by Michael L. Daily III.
A Jesuit since 1961, Father Curry is the founder and artistic director of the Writers Program for wounded Warriors of the National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped (NTWH). The program has provided workshops for veterans that guide participants to learn to write and perform dramatic dialogue based on their experiences. The nationally recognized program has helped veterans with emotional healing and in coping with their disabilities.
Father Curry, who founded in 1977 the parent organization NTWH, also founded the Academy for Veterans in Georgetown this year and hopes to launch a bakery program in the DC area that would employ veterans. He is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University and has a Master’s Degree in Theater from Villanova and a doctorate in theater from New York University.
The ceremony is being conducted by the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which has oversight of the Memorial in cooperation with the Fairmount Park.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 14, 2010
Contact: 215-576-1216
Veteran volunteers are patrolling the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial as part of an aggressive campaign to halt the vandalism and destruction at the Memorial, starting this week and continuing through Memorial Day.
An organizing rally and press conference, attended by some of those volunteers, was held at the Memorial on Wednesday April 14, at noon in an effort to halt the vandalism from skateboarders and inline skaters, who have actually been destroying devices designed to halt such activitity.
“It’s turned into a game for these kids. We are going to do everything in within the limits of the law to catch and aggressively prosecute these offenders, “noted Terry A. Williamson, president of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which provides oversight at the Memorial in cooperation with the Fairmount Park.
By DAVID GAMBACORTA
Philadelphia Daily News
gambacd@phillynews.com or 215-854-5994
Original Article
Enough is enough.
With their beloved war memorial under near-constant attack in Society Hill, some local Vietnam veterans are preparing to once again answer the call of duty.
Beginning next week, the vets will patrol the grounds of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial in an attempt to ward off heartless punks who have made a hobby of vandalizing the hallowed space.
Terry Williamson, president of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, said that skateboarders and in-line skaters have seemingly stepped up their mistreatment of the memorial since the site's $500,000 renovation last fall.
"It really breaks your heart," Williamson said during a recent interview with the Daily News.
Download the Information Letter Here
Download the PVVM Roast Ad Form Here
Ed Keenan, retired Business Manager of Plumbers Union Local 690; John Phillips President/Business Manager of International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 1, and Mike Fera, President/Business manager, of the Cement Masons & Plasterer’s Union have roasted their fair share of friends, public officials and the like.
Now it's time these union brothers feel the same "heat" to benefit the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Penn's Landing. Join their many friends and veterans in good cheer and fun at a roast on Thursday, May 20, at Plumbers Union Local 690, Waterfall Room, 2791 Southampton Road, Philadelphia. An open bar and food stations will be available from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by the "roast."
Organized labor has been the most consistent supporter of the Memorial since it was built more than 20 years ago and continuing through the first phase of the "Duty to Remember" restoration campaign. The first phase repaired damage from weather and vandals, but, unfortunately, there weren’t enough funds to completely open the Spruce Street side of the Memorial.
We are pleased to invite you to the Veterans Day unveiling of the newly restored Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at noon, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 at Front and Spruce Streets. A more than two-year effort to raise the $500,000 needed for the first phase of our "Duty to Remember" Campaign for the preservation of the Memorial has resulted in the replacement of paving material, restoration of damaged granite, new lighting, a refurbished "wall of names," the installation of flagpoles for each of the Armed Services and other improvements to create virtually a "brand new" Memorial. One of the other exciting improvements is a web-based 24/7 camera system which is online now, will permit individuals to visit our website to view the live video feed of the Memorial. The ceremony will feature an unveiling of the wall of names and raising of the Armed Services flags by an active duty member of each branch of service. The keynote speaker is PA Justice Seamus McCaffrey.
Watch the Live Video Feed Here