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.
In concert with Memorial Day on May 25, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Board is launching a grass roots fund-raising effort that will "permit every patriotic and concerned citizen a chance to show they care" about the continuing desecration of the Memorial at Penn's Landing.
The Board also announced that it will be honoring the four Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who lost their lives in Vietnam during ceremonies at noon at the Memorial at Front and Spruce Streets. The keynote speaker will be Joseph T. Cox, headmaster of the Haverford School and a retired Army colonel who served in Vietnam.
The Memorial, dedicated in 1987, was built largely with individual donations from veterans and others and "we hope the same sort of spirit will permit every patriotic and concerned citizen a chance to show they care," said Terry A. Williamson, president of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which oversees the Memorial in cooperation with the Fairmount Park.
Police and firefighters who lost their lives in the Vietnam War will be honored during Memorial Day observances Monday, May 25 at noon at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Front and Spruce streets at Penn's Landing.
Keynote speaker will be retired Army Col. Joseph T. Cox, the headmaster of the Haverford School and Vietnam Veteran. Col. Cox is a former English and composition professor of the U.S. Military Academy of West Point, NY.
"There is a proud tradition among our police and firefighters of serving our country, a tradition that continues today," noted Terry A. Williamson, president of the Memorial Fund Board of Directors. "The recent fatalities among the Police Department only served to highlight the sacrifice of these brave men and women, who risk their lives to preserve the public safety."
We have been getting many questions concerning the Annual 5-10K Race sposored by the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society. I have contacted them to ask for information concerning this year's race and I received the following response.
Sadly the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Society must cancel the Race this year. The City of Philadelphia wanted a huge amount in the way of fees and taxes. The size of the bill was way more than they could afford, so they were forced to shut it down. They appreciate your support and wish things were different.
Picture: Congressman Robert Brady delivers remarks pledging support for the "Duty to Remember" Campaign to restore and preserve the Memorial. He is joined by (from left), U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy, Terry A. Williamson, President of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; and Michael L. Daily III, Fund treasurer. (CLICK HERE to view more pictures from the ceremony)Congressman Robert A. Brady reiterated his support for the “Duty to Remember” Campaign to open up the Spruce Street side of the Memorial in an effort to halt vandalism and enhance awareness of the Penn’s Landing site.
The First District Congressman was joined at the noon ceremony by Congressman Patrick Murphy of the Eighth District, who indicated he supported the effort to seek federal funding for the $2 million campaign, which already has raised $500,000.
Brady noted that he already has provided assistance to the Korean War Memorial across from the site and he pledged to bring a similar level of support to the Vietnam Memorial. The congressman spoke of his work in expanding U.S. House of Representatives’ Wounded Warrior Program to provide employment opportunities, which he announced at the Memorial in July. Long an advocate of veterans’ causes, Brady recently was given an A+ by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Action Fund on their Congressional Report Card.