Alexandria Veterans Organization Raises $15K for Plaques Honoring Local Soldiers Who Died in Vietnam
Dedication of the first takes place May 27; the second, June 14
ALEXANDRIA, VA-The Veterans Service Organization (VSO), based in Alexandria, began a fundraising campaign last December to buy and place more plaques at the Alexandria War Memorial. In just five months, the VSO has received $15,000, the target amount and enough to cover the cost of two plaques.
Located at Union Station (110 Callahan Dr.), the memorial was erected in 1940 and dedicated by the VFW with a plaque honoring the 27 Alexandrians who died serving in WWI.
This campaign covered the cost of two plaques meant to honor residents who gave their lives during the Vietnam War The first will be dedicated on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 at 9 am. An identical plaque will be placed on the wall of Gadsby’s Tavern on Flag Day (June 14).
The names of the 68 soldiers have been confirmed by the Friends of Rocky Versace.
The majority of donations came from the following: VFW Post 609 and it’s Auxiliary, the American Legion Post 24, the Kenyon Anderson Chapter of Association of the US Navy (AUSN), the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapter 353, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 227, the Potomac-Liberty Chapter of the Association of the US Army (AUSA), the Nelly Custis Chapter of DAR, Cook for Vets, and the Cub Scouts of Pack 301-Alexandria.
Though the VSO led the effort to raise funds, the money was handled by the director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, Gretchen Bulova
In the future, the VSO’s goal is to secure donations for additional plaques honoring servicemembers who died in WWII and the Korean War.
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