Vietnam Veterans memorial for Erie pa VVA chapter 435 Call for some help

Click the links below for to see what they are doing



https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/erie-county-vietnam-veterans-memorial/x/7070453

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDa-Zqf6PM4

Short Summary

The Erie County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a 501(c)3 organization, has been working to raise construction funds for 15 years.  We are veterans and friends who have realized how critical such a memorial is.  Even with it only partially completed, this Memorial already has had a powerful effect.  The full impact with the six monuments depicting the history of the war, the walk of honor stones and bricks, and the center prayer stone will be impressive.  Now 60 years after the Vietnam Conflict first began, we are making a place for meditation and healing here in Erie.  Even with all our work, we still need your help to finish.  

What We Need & What You Get

We are salt of the earth folks who have succeeded in raising over $250,000 through small fundraising events and a couple significant grants. Yet we need $40,000 more to complete the construction.  We are asking in this Indiegogo campaign to raise this amount by reaching generous people who understand the need.  Our goal is to dedicate the memorial on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014.

We can't give you anything except the knowledge that you have helped to welcome home finally Vietnam Veterans who never got that welcome...UNLESS you want to place a stone or brick in memory or honor of someone.  (People have named bricks and stones for family members who fought in other wars as well as Vietnam.)  Look to the right for more information.  Whatever we raise here will help us pay our bills from the contractors.  Nothing goes to overhead. WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS.  There is no overhead.

The Impact

If you know or are a Vietnam Veteran, it is likely that you have experienced the effects of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.  Many of our Vietnam vets have carried this with them since being in-country among the bamboo and rice paddies.  It is only since Maya Lin’s design for the Wall in Washington, DC that these veterans have begun to heal.  Since then other memorials have been constructed throughout the country.  This one is unique because it contains 6 monuments (12 sides) etched with a concise history of the war.  These images and words were composed through the collaboration of our members. Through these panels, our children and grandchildren will learn more about Vietnam than is discussed in most public school history books.  After all is finished, we are planning to encourage field trips to the site partnering with local public and private schools to accomplish this.    

Other Ways You Can Help

If you cannot give but are moved by our project, please forward this to those you know who would also be moved.  Remember the Indiegogo share tools, which will make share quick and easy.  If you are on Facebook or Twitter, share the website too.  Thank you so much for reading and considering us as a worthy cause.