AGENT ORANGE MEMORIAL PLAQUE

AGENT ORANGE MEMORIAL PLAQUE

AS A VIETNAM VETERAN WHO IS LIVING WITH THE EFFECTS OF AGENT ORANGE
I WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE SEND THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THIS MEMORIAL PLAQUE REPAIRED OR REPLACED.

EVERYONE CAN READ THE FULL STORY HERE

http://www.agentorangequiltoftears.com/news.html

DEAR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN

AS VIETNAM VETERANS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS AND FAMILIES, WE ASK THAT YOU READ THE FOLLOWING AND IF POSSIBLE ASSIST US TO GET THIS MEMORIAL REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND PLACED IN A MANNER THAT IT WON'T FALL INTO DISREPAIR AGAIN.

IN APRIL 2000, THE U.S. CONGRESS AUTHORIZED THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE IN MEMORY PLAQUE, TO BE ADDED TO THE THREE-ACRE MEMORIAL SITE ON THE NATIONAL MALL. THE PLAQUE IS INTENDED TO HONOR THOSE VIETNAM VETERANS WHO DIED AFTER SERVICE IN VIETNAM, BUT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT SERVICE, AND WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PLACEMENT ON THE MEMORIAL BECAUSE OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICIES.

THE 24-INCHES TALL BY 36-INCHES WIDE PLAQUE IS A SIMPLE GRANITE STONE PLACED WITHIN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE THREE SERVICEMEN STATUE PLAZA. IT WAS DEDICATED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004.

picture here:

THE INSCRIPTION READS:

"IN MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR AND LATER DIED AS A RESULT OF THEIR SERVICE. WE HONOR AND REMEMBER THEIR SACRIFICE."

THE PLAQUE WAS BEAUTIFUL UPON IT'S DEDICATION BUT TODAY, ONLY A FEW YEARS LATER THE PLAQUE HAS NOT 'WEATHERED WELL' AT ALL. IT'S LETTERING IS QUICKLY ERODING DUE TO WEATHER & PEOPLE ALWAYS WALKING & STANDING ON IT. THE PLAQUE IS NOT ELEVATED EVEN BY A FEW INCHES, IT LAYS FLATLY & FLUSH TO THE WALKWAY NEAR IT WITH NO BARRIER OF ANY TYPE WHICH INEVITABLY DOES NOT PREVENT PEOPLE FROM CONSTANTLY WALKING & STANDING ON IT. WATER ALSO POOLS ON IT WHEN IT RAINS, WHICH ALSO ADDS TO IT'S POOR CONDITION.