Thank you to the founders of the VVMF.
Keeping our history of those who paid the supreme
sacrifice is very important for all generations to come...
Respectfully,
Gene T. Spanos
U.S. Marine Vietnam Combat Veteran
2/68-2/69 1st Tour
They only have a charity ranking of "D" due to high administrative costs and less than 50% of money collected goes to the "WALL". Don Oderkirk, Vietnam Vet.
Makes me wonder why this organization needs to spen over 56% on Fund Raising but only 40% on the actual Program. Why do the Founder/President and COO warrant salaries total almost $500,000.00? Why does Charity Navigator rate them only 73.95% and only 2 Stars?
While I have donated to this organization in the past, I am concerned with the percent of income devoted to fundraising and overhead. I whole heartedly support the cause, but am not confident this organization is effectively serving it. Check the numbers.
Review from CharityNavigator
It is long past time for Vietnam era veterans to have the public recognition they deserve. Thank God the new generation of warriors are getting some of the public support that they deserve.
Not only is this organization offering a wonderful healing tool for those of us that have the name of a loved one on The Wall, but it has been great for finding kindred spirits that share the same type of loss. When we that live far away from The Wall cannot visit and "touch his spirit" there is the VVMF Website that gives the opportunity to spend a few minutes with them. I remember every trip to visit The Wall, but the Website gives everyone the
opportunity to share their stories and the ability to post photos of their loved ones. It gave me the chance to contact one of the soldiers that was there the day my soldier was KIA, connecting with that person gives a sense of closure that was never available before the VVMF built The Wall.
As a supplier of Photos from the NC, I think if you want this to be successful, you must get the media from each state involved. We as volunteers need all the help we can get to make this work for the Veterans and their families and loved ones.
I think you should contact the major newspaper and Television and Radio and Facebook subsidiaries so the work gets out as much as possible,
As volunteers, we do have some success, but not as much as we could receive if all were involved.
I have tracked over 1750 and I am still looking for the photos of about 500. These are going to be the tough ones. We need exposure and we need it quickly..
I use the Internet, Major Vietnam Web Sites, Classmates.com and single volunteers and ROAGK from the state of NC, as well as Ancestry.com.
You have nothing to lose.....so get us the help we need..
About three years ago, I found the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website as I was researching the resting place of my first love, Warren, who lost his life in the Vietnam War. Immediately, I posted a remembrance on the Virtual Wall for Warren Muhr and two other boys I knew, John Malcom Zelenick and Regis DeBold, who lost their lives in Vietnam.
A mutual friend introduced Warren and me in 1966 during his training in Ft. Lewis, Washington. We began a long distance relationship, writing back and forth, and talking on the phone on the weekends. One of his first letters read, “Do you believe in love at first write?” His letters were sweet and sincere, with a wonderful sense of humor. He always wore sunglasses because he kept losing or breaking his prescription glasses. He regarded me as the angel in his life and his greatest inspiration. We fell in love.
When I received news Warren was to visit his hometown of Chicago before his deployment to Vietnam, I set out on a Greyhound Bus from Pennsylvania to see him for the first time. We spent three wonderful days together before he left for Vietnam. Warren and I continued to write.
On January 21, 1967, Warren turned 21. On Feb 26, 1967, machine gun fire killed Warren while he was protecting the front lines. At that time, I felt helpless. I found out about his passing much too late to pay my respects. Although I went on with my life, there was always a hole in my heart.
A few years ago, after my husband of 39 years passed away, Warren appeared in a vivid dream and I knew I had to find him. After two months of research, I narrowed my scope to Cemetery Row in South Chicago. Visiting Warren for his birthday last year was one of the most magnificent days of my life. I became friends with the cemetery attendant, the florist and the limo driver, each of whom helped me in my quest to find Warren and pay him proper tribute. They were all very touched by my story. The cemetery attendant had cleaned the snow from Warren’s gravesite and marked it with flags. The florist, who made an enormous red silk floral heart, would not accept any payment for it. I remain in close contact with them to this day.
When I went to see Warren, I brought some of the soil from his grave to add to my flower garden so we could be together at my home in Pennsylvania. Every year when my forget-me-nots come up, I know Warren’s spirit is with me. He is now my guardian angel, watching over me and guiding me.
Warren has inspired me to do all I can to support and honor our veterans. I have encouraged my friends to join me in support of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund because I feel strongly about the meaningful work the organization is doing for our heroes. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund established America’s recognition for what members of our armed forces have died for and what they are doing today to protect the freedoms we enjoy here at home.
As a Vietnam Veteran I initially had my suspicions about the concept of building a memorial to Vietnam veterans believing it would reopen the wounds of a tragic time in American history. Since the memorial was completed in 1982 I have become an avid supporter. The Wall has been a place of sorrow and healing as I remember the fallen soldiers I served with and joy as I meet so many other veterans of America's longest war at the memorial. We share a unique bond that could only have been brought about by this wonderful organization.