News Release: Lockheed Martin Gives $1 Million To Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center

21 February 2008

Lockheed Martin has pledged $1 million to assist in building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., announced Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the group raising the money to build the Center.

“Lockheed Martin has been a friend to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial since we were raising money to build The Wall in 1982,” said Scruggs. “When we were commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Wall last year, Lockheed Martin came forward again as our biggest sponsor. It is not surprising that this company, with its deep dedication to veterans and America’s military personnel, would come through again to help us build this important Memorial Center on the National Mall.”

Through its “United in Gratitude” initiative, Lockheed Martin is finding innovative ways to support the troops, both at home and abroad. “United in Gratitude” encompasses programs that improve the lives of service members and their families, enhance educational and training opportunities and honor their selfless duty to country. This support spans philanthropic contributions, fund-raising efforts and volunteer activities.

“This Lockheed Martin donation honors the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, as well as their families and friends,” said Bob Stevens, Lockheed Martin’s chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “This memorial honors the sacrifices of our veterans, while remembering those sacrifices continue today with service members deployed around the world. We are proud to support the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center as a way to make that connection between our veterans and current service members.”

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center will be built underground near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. While still in the planning stages, exhibits will include a wall of photographs of those whose names are on The Wall, a selection of the over 100,000 items that have been left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a timeline of key military events in the Vietnam War, rotating exhibits and a resource center, where visitors can find in-depth information. One exhibit will illustrate the legacy of service demonstrated by the American people, showing images of those who served in all of America’s wars, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund has raised approximately $16 million to date, with a goal of $75 million to $100 million. The Center will be funded completely from private donations, just as The Wall was privately funded when it was built in 1982. The Memorial Fund expects to break ground for the Center in 2010; the building should be completed 18 months later.

Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For more information about Lockheed Martin’s “United in Gratitude” initiative, go to www.unitedingratitude.com.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, through a series of outreach programs, it is dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing, educating about the impact of the Vietnam War and is building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground educational facility, near The Wall.

Copyright © VietnamGear.com. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for internal use within VietnamGear.com. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable