Hello Friend,
Ten new names, ten brothers in arms, ten legacies of courage. On Sunday, ten new names were added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, including CPL Frank A. Neary of the United States Marine Corps. With these additions, 58,282 names are now etched in granite on The Wall. During an emotional ceremony on a perfect day in Washington, DC, CPL Neary’s daughter, Jessica DiNapoli, shared her memories of a man who came home from Vietnam, raised a family, and never forgot the sacrifices of his fellow service men and women. Watch Jessica talk about her father’s life, then honor the ten new additions to The Wall by sharing the video today: In 1967, CPL Neary was shot in the leg while on patrol in Vietnam. He was just 18. Upon returning home, like too many who have seen the theater of war, he struggled to cope with his memories. As Jessica explained, however, he was able to use the memories of his fallen brothers for good:
On Sunday, fifty of CPL Neary’s family members gathered at The Wall to honor his life and the legacies of nine other fallen service members. We’re proud to ensure their stories will live on for generations through our plans for the Education Center at The Wall. Watch Jessica’s stirring tribute to her father, CPL Frank A. Neary, one of ten names added to The Wall on Sunday. Sincerely, P.S. Today we also honor and remember the nine names added to The Wall in addition to CPL Neary. They are: PFC Johnny Owen Brooks, U.S. Army, Stockton, CA |
Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. Authorized by Congress, its most recent initiative is building The Education Center at The Wall, an underground facility near the Memorial that is designed to add faces to all the names on The Wall and tell their stories to future generations. Other Memorial Fund initiatives include educational programs for students and teachers, and a traveling Wall replica. | |
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund | 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW Suite 104 | Washington, D.C. 20037 |