NEARLY 200 AMERICAN WAR HEROES & THEIR FAMILIES TO BE HONORED AT NATIONAL IN MEMORY DAY CEREMONY AT THE WALL
Monday, April 18 at 10 AM / Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

WHO: Nearly 200 American war heroes from 39 states will be honored at the In Memory Day Ceremony, hosted by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, that pays tribute to men and women who died prematurely as a result of the Vietnam War, but whose names are not eligible for inscription on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. More than 1,000 family members, friends and fellow veterans are expected to attend and family members of this year's honorees will read aloud the names of their loved ones in chronological order by date of death, and place tributes at the base of The Wall.

WHAT: Seventh Annual In Memory Day Ceremony
WHEN: Monday, April 18, 2004, at 10 AM
WHERE: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

WHY: The Department of Defense developed very specific parameters that allow only the names of service members who died of injuries suffered in combat zones to be inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  The In Memory program recognizes those who have died prematurely as a result of the Vietnam War but who do not meet the criteria.  Many of their deaths are a result of Agent Orange exposure and emotional wounds that never healed.

BACKGROUND: Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the non-profit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.  Today, through a series of outreach programs, the organization works to preserve the legacy of The Wall, to promote healing and to educate about the impact of the Vietnam War.