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"Godfather of the Wall" Scruggs At It Again!
Using 'The Healing Wall' To Make More Money
And the VFW Joins In To Again Slap the Vietnam Vet
ABC News Report on Jan C. Scruggs & VFW Involvement with Ted Turner Broadcasting & Hanoi Jane Fonda Turner
by
Christina Margetich
National Forget-Me-Nots (Illinois)


First some background: Tom and I coordinated the first public fund-raiser in the nation for Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC held in Bartonville, IL on Sept. 21, 1980. Prior to this, private donations came from corporations and defense industry. The efforts of Jan Scruggs, President/Founder VVMF got our Government to grant 2 acres in Constitution Gardens near Lincoln Memorial as site for Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Before Veterans Day 1979, Rep. John P. Hammerschmidt introduced HJ Resolution 431 to House of Representatives (10.25.79) and Charles Mathias, Jr. Introduced SJ Resolution 119 to US Senate (11/09/79). Estimated cost for Memorial was $2.3 million. By the time it was built $9 million was collected from people all across America.

The Memorial was dedicated in 1982 and turned over to the Department of the interior in 1984 for perpetual complete maintenance and programs. Scruggs stated in brochures that once the Memorial was built, and maintenance provided in perpetuity by Department of the Interior, the VVMF would cease to exist. But in 1989, Jan Scruggs began soliciting again, even from families whose names of loved ones were on the Memorial under the pretense the money was needed to repair cracks on the Wall and for upkeep. UNTRUE! Our government maintains upkeep of Memorial and programs!

November 10,1994 - ABC World News with Peter Jennings did investigative expose report on VVMF and Jan C. Scruggs. Helping in the investigation were Ernest Preate, Jr., Marine Combat Veteran and Attorney General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; James Mills, Secretary of State, South Carolina; Arnold Goldstein, National Park Service, Washington, DC; and James Baush, National Charities Information Bureau.

Investigation found VVMF, a non-profit organization, misleading in their soliciting, stating money donated was used to maintain upkeep of Vietnam Veterans Memorial. AGAIN FALSE! Our government has maintained the upkeep of Vietnam Veterans Memorial since 1984 at a cost of $750.000 per year. Found also:

  1. The VVMF from 1989-1993 collected $7 million and another $1 million shortly thereafter;
  2. From inception of Vietnam Memorial in 1979 to 1993, $17 million was collected but only $422,000 was spent on Memorial but $600,000 to $900,000 was spent on consultants, costing $4.4 million to collect $7 million!
  3. That $385,000 went to Robert Frank, CPA and Treasurer for VVMF;
  4. That there were five (5) other charities collecting from VVMF address;
  5. Also spent $58,000 on investigation of cracks on the Memorial the first time and $22,000 the second time by friends of Jan Scruggs. (It was found that these hairline cracks were natural and that there had been no growth for 10 years).

These findings were accepted by the National Park Service.

In 1996, Scruggs (VVMF) had traveling wall, 'The Wall That Heals', built, charging $3500 diem and accommodations for drivers for 4 day weekend. Tour of 'Wall That Heals' is national co-sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) that jumped into bed with Ted Turner, TNT and CNN Broadcasting, who is the husband of "Hanoi Jane" Fonda Turner. She committed treasonous acts against America's fighting men in Vietnam, broadcasting for communist Hanoi Vietnam radio and through her infamous photo sitting on enemy anti-aircraft gun pointing upward as if shooting pilots from the sky. This not only demoralized our men but Air Force Col. Laird Gutterson, recipient of four Purple Hearts, among other medals and awards and who was a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton, stated "He spoke with fellow prisoners who were beaten by Marine LTC. Adison Miller to force them to appear for propaganda in front of Hanoi Jane Fonda Turner." How many men were tortured, how many died because of her treasonous acts?? Only God knows. The VFW donates $50,000 to have name and logo alongside of Ted Turner's TNT trailer that brings the wall to various sites. Scruggs states in National VFW magazine that individuals touched emotionally by experience at Memorial in DC recognized it wasn't possible for everyone to visit DC. Thus replicas of the Memorial sponsored by various groups began touring the nations, especially those of John Devitt, Vietnam Combat Veterans Ltd., whose traveling walls since 1984 have brought healing and comfort to thousands and thousands of veterans and families of those who have loved ones on the Memorial. The response was and still is overwhelming. This was not lost on Jan C. Scruggs, and he states in VFW magazine that "None of these were authorized". Why should they be?? Scruggs seems to forget he has made millions off the Memorial. He also FORGETS HE DOES NOT OWN NOR HAVE COPYRIGHT OF THE MEMORIAL. THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL BELONGS TO THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE WALL AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO ALL AMERICANS! He also states that "VVNF financially maintains in conjunction with National Park Service, the upkeep and programs. ONLY PARTIALLY TRUE! He does donate for his special programs, but our government still maintains complete upkeep of the Memorial and programs, according to Donna Donnelson of National Park Service.

To the National office of Veterans of Foreign Wars: YOU have again slapped the Vietnam veterans and have eliminated many good Vietnam vets as members by your association with Ted Turner and Hanoi Jane Fonda. Many veterans that do belong to VFW are withdrawing membership. Some just don't renew and some are tearing up their cards. Tom and I withdrew our membership and Tom has been a member since 1943! As parents of Vietnam veterans, we felt it was the right thing to do.

YOURS IN FREEDOM,
BECAUSE OF PATIROTS AND VETERANS
NOT BECAUSE OF HANOI JANE FONDA AND HER
LIKES
Christina Margetich

(Webmaster's note: Christina and Tom Margetich have been involved in the POW/MIA issue for many years. They make POW and KIA bracelets at many veteran reunions and events and are well known and loved by all of us involved in this issue.)