Work is underway on the first phase of the restoration and preservation project of The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Penns Landing. This phase involves the restoration of the Memorial after 21 years of wear and damage from the weather, general use and vandalism.
It includes replacing the misshapen surface bricks with a more appealing granite-like paving surface, erecting flagpoles honoring POW/MIAs and the Armed Services, installing security cameras, enhancing lighting and refurbishing the wall of names, moving the Purple Heart Memorial from Spruce Street to a location behind the wall of names and other general restoration work.
Started on Aug. 1, construction is scheduled to be completed in October. Until it is, access to the site will be limited to facilitate construction and for safety considerations. The first phase is being funded through the “Duty to Remember Campaign, launched in 2007. Phase II, for which there is still at least a $500,000 shortfall, involves opening the wall of scenes to permit a stronger focus on the wall of names, improve visibility as a way to deter vandalism and create a greater sense of awareness of this enclosed site.
