News Release: VVMF 2012 Christmas Tree Ceremony

13 December 2012

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will honor veterans and active-duty military personnel during its 16th Annual Christmas Tree Ceremony at The Wall, on Monday December 17th.

During the ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 10 am, representatives of the VVMF will place a Christmas tree at the apex of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Volunteers will decorate the tree with holiday greeting cards sent to the VVMF by Americans of all ages. The tree will also be adorned with cards and ornaments hand-made by schoolchildren from around the country. In addition to the Christmas tree, a Menorah will also be placed at The Wall. VVMF President Jan C. Scruggs will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. The featured speaker will be Harry Robinson.

Mr. Robinson is a Director for Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. He is a professor of urban design and dean emeritus at Howard University in Washington, D.C. where he has served as Interim Provost and Vice President for the University Administration. From 1966-1968, Mr. Robinson served in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. His tours of duty included that of a Ranger qualified combat unit commander with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam for which he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

VVMF is partnering with two deserving causes; Operation Gratitude and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

Uwrapped gifts around $10 in value for ages 0-13 will be collected at the ceremony. The toys will hen be donated to needy children in the D.C. area.

Operation Gratitudeis an organization that sends over 100,000 care packages annually to service-members in hostile regions around the world. The packages are filled with food, hygiene products, and entertainment items. The Armed Forces Retirement Home of Washington, D.C. helps VVMF staff sort thousands of cards to be placed in the personal care packages to be sent to soldiers who will be away from their families this holiday season.

“The Wall is a sacred place, and one of so few where visitors are so directly exposed to the most noble American values of duty, honor, courage and sacrifice,” says Jan Scruggs.

“This ceremony, now in its 16th year, has become a cherished part of the holidays, and we are proud to join Operation Gratitude in showing appreciation to our service men and women who are making tremendous sacrifices in the name of freedom.”

After the ceremony, the tree and many boxes of cards and ornaments will be left at The Wall, so that visitors can read the messages and add decorations when they visit throughout the holidays.

Hand-made cards and ornaments have been contributed by:

John Cavallero from White Planes, N.Y.
Sacred Heart School from Bellevue, Wash.
M. Palmer from Panvers, Mass.
Ms. Malone’s Kindergartners
VVMF staff

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