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| Memorial Apparel |
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Memorial apparel is now available and can be purchased securely online. All purchases are processed by PayPal to provide the safest and most secure method of shopping via the Internet. Creating a PayPal account is optional, but not necessary to make a purchase. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.
Purchase your memorial t-shirts, golf shirts and hats today and help ensure the future of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
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| “Wounded Warrior” Priest to Speak at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony |
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.
Read More Here |
| Help Monitor the Memorial with Live Video Feed |
 "You can help deter vandalism and skateboarders at the Memorial at Front and Spruce streets by monitoring through our 24/7 video feed. If you see, illegal activity in progress, you can call 911 with the details and a police car will be dispatched. The live video feed uses four video cameras placed to allow a view of the memorial grounds. The video also includes live audio. Please Note: When viewing the video feed for the first time you will be required to install an ActiveX control. This is safe and it must be done to be able to watch the video feed. It is also recommended that you view the feed using Internet Explorer for best results. The feed will display the four camera views in a split screen. Double-click on one camera view to zoom in. Use the display buttons to return to the split screen view.
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| Engraved Tribute Plaques Available |
 The PVVMF is offering an opportunity to friends of the Memorial to preserve in granite tributes of a fitting and appropriate nature. There are no restrictions on topics that can be memorialized, but it is expected the message will be in good taste. It could be in memory of a loved one, recognizing a veterans’ organization, service in the military or a host of other ways to provide permanent recognition. The PVVMF reserves the exclusive right to approve all lettering to ensure the integrity and decorum of this hallowed ground.
There are 280, 12X12-inch black Vermont granite blocks that will be placed at the entrance of the Memorial for this purpose. We a requesting a donation of $300 which includes engraving of up to four lines of no more than 23 characters and spaces per line. Three lines are preferred. The granite plagues can be ordered through our web site or by sending a check for the full amount, made out to the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and mailed to the fund at 213 N. Fourth St., Philadelphia 19106, along with the three to four lines you are requesting for the engraving. Please allow three weeks for engraving, which is done in place. You will receive a notice that the engraving has been completed. All proceeds will be used to complete the restoration and preservation project.
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| Limited Edition Commemorative Bricks |
 The PVVMF is offering a limited edition of 646 bricks, representing those honored at the Memorial. The bricks are taken from the site as part of the ongoing restoration and preservation project at the Memorial. Each brick was used in the actual construction of the Memorial in 1987 and is affixed with a brass, numbered plate. There will be none others offered after the 646 are gone so act now to have one of these unique mementoes of the orginal Memorial.
The bricks, which comes with a letter of authenticity, are being offered for a donation of $125 which includes handling and mailing. They can be ordered through our web site or by sending a donation to the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, 213 N. Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. All proceeds will be used to complete the restoration and preservation project, as noted on the web site.
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| "Duty to Remember" Campaign |
 Help Stop the Desecration and Dishonor to the 646 Heroes
We need the help of every patriotic and concerned citizen in the Greater Philadelphia Region to preserve and protect the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is the sad truth that vandals continue their despicable acts in the secluded Memorial at Front and Spruce streets. Recently three youths from suburban Bucks County were arrested and charged with a third degree felony. Nonetheless our cameras still picked up youths actually tearing off the guards to protect the Memorial with their skateboards.
Veterans and volunteers are currently patrolling the Memorial, but the desecration will only stop when we can open up the Spruce Street side of the Memorial to make it harder to use the protection of the enclosed amphitheater of the Memorial to hide their despicable acts, as well as making it easier for the police observe.
It was the grass roots support of veterans, their families and friends who raised the majority of the funding to build the Memorial in 1987. Won't you please help by contributing $25, $100 or whatever you can provide. Even more helpful would be to get your friends and family to do the same. Visit the link below to see how and read more on this site to see what we're trying to accomplish. Thank you and God bless America and our veterans.
Terry A. Williamson
President, PVVMF
  The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (PVVMF) is the only organization devoted exclusively to fund raising for the Memorial.
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial is truly one of city’s hidden treasures. For veterans, it recalls the 646 Philadelphians who lost their lives in one of the most protracted conflicts in American history. For many others, the Memorial goes unnoticed and rarely is a visitor’s destination.
In large part, this stems from the enclosed nature of the Memorial, a reflection of the special reverence sought by Vietnam veterans who often believed their service was either ignored or slighted. The design as envisioned by original architect Perry M. Morgan was an enclosed amphitheater that facilitated the sanctity veterans sought but created other problems scarcely imaginable at the time.
The secluded Memorial also served to breed vandalism and vulgar behavior that desecrates this hallowed ground. Constant vigilance by the police can only do so much to stop those who would deface the memorial, use it as a recreational area or to hide their inappropriate activities.
READ MORE
Duty to Remember Campaign Brochure
Download the Campaign Brochure (Adobe PDF Format)
Duty to Remember Campaign Sponsorship Opportunities
Download the Campaign Sponsorship Opportunities Page (Adobe PDF Format) |
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| Remembering... |
 They came from the diverse neighborhoods in this "city of neighborhoods" -- Fishtown, North Philly, Mayfair, Roxborough, Olney, Fairmount, South Philly, Kensington, Germantown -- where they had started their lives, careers and families. Among them were 54 alumni of Thomas Edison School, which sustained the largest number of Vietnam war casualties of any high school in the nation; 27 alumni of Father Judge High School; and eight former students of St. Leo's Elementary School in Tacony.
We can but imagine what their lives would have been like had they returned home; but we do know that our city is poorer for their early passing. Their average age: 22 years, nine months.
The motto "It is our duty to remember" became our pledge when the Memorial was dedicated in 1987. We have kept that pledge, and we will always remember our neighbors, friends, and brothers who gave their last true measure of devotion. |
| About This Site |
Quick Tips
Use the on-site search engine to search for a name on the wall and anything else on the site. Just type a few keywords into the search box located in the left sidebar and click the search button. You can use the advanced search link to try to narrow the results.
This is the official website of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial presented by the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Inc. The goal of this website is to bring the memorial to the Internet from beginning to the present. We will always remember the 646 men from Philadelphia who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. |
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| Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
Board of Directors- Terry A. Williamson, President
- Dennis Best, Vice President
- John Scott McAllister, Secretary
- Michael L. Daily III, Treasurer
The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. is a Non-Profit 501 (c)(3) organization. |
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