Vietnam Memorial Wall Exhibit Inaugurates 7th Annual Holiday Drive
Van Nuys, CA - September 14, 2009 – In a memorable and fitting prelude to its annual Holiday Drive, Operation Gratitude is partnering with The American Veterans Traveling Tribute to honor all those who have served, and particularly all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Exhibit will be on display October 14-18 in Van Nuys.
The AVTT Exhibit includes a 9-11 tribute, a Cost of Freedom display of Gold Dog Tags (identifying each service member killed since Vietnam), and the centerpiece of the exhibit: An exact replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall (80% scale), displaying all 58,253 names of the men and women killed in the Vietnam War.
Located on the large lot adjacent to the Van Nuys National Guard Armory at the corner of Victory and Louise, the entire event will be free to the public. All ages are invited and encouraged to attend this first-ever display of The AVTT Exhibit in Southern Calif.
After viewing The Tribute, AVTT Exhibit attendees (ages 12 and older) are invited to participate in Operation Gratitude Care Package Prep activities that will be taking place in the Armory on all days of the Exhibit.
Operation Gratitude will provide letter writing materials allowing children and adults to express their personal thoughts and appreciation to Service Members deployed overseas during the Holidays. Snacks, information and even scarf-making lessons will be offered at the Operation Gratitude tables at The Exhibit site. Donations for the Holiday Drive Care Packages are encouraged.
Suggested items to donate: Beanie Babies, Bags of Candy, Beef Jerky (single-serve packages).
The AVTT event daily schedule is as follows:
1. Wednesday October 14: Motorcade Escort of The Traveling Wall
4:00pm Muster at Airtel Plaza Hotel: 7277 Valjean Avenue, Van Nuys
5:30pm Greetings
6:00pm Motorcade Departs for Exhibit Site led by Grand Marshall Stan Chambers
2. Thursday October 15:
9am-Noon: Set up Exhibit
Noon-5pm: Open viewing
5pm: Opening Ceremony with Candlelighting, laying of wreaths
3. Friday October 16: Open 8am-8pm
9am-3pm: School Visits
3pm-8pm: Open Viewing
4. Saturday October 17: Family Day
8am-8pm: School/Church/Synagogue/Youth Group Performances
1pm: Formal Greeting
5. Sunday October 18: Open 8am-8pm
11am: Memorial Service with Condor Flyover
12 Noon: Parade of Honor Past Wall
6pm-8pm: Breakdown
Location: 17330 Victory Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91406 -- Corner of Victory and Louise. Parking next door at the Skate Park and OneGeneration.
For more information about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute: http://www.avtt.org/.
For more information about Operation Gratitude: http://www.operationgratitude.com./
For more information about the Operation Gratitude-AVTT Event: OpGrat@gmail.com or ptmarty@aol.com .
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude (www.OperationGratitude.com) is the California- based 501 (c) (3) non-profit, volunteer organization that sends care packages of snacks, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan and on military ships at sea. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. Operation Gratitude receives the names of troops from commanders in the field who see the positive impact of care packages on their troops' morale; the organization sends more than 100,000 care packages every year. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 460,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas. NOTE: Support of Operation Gratitude was the 2008-09 California C.A.R. State President's Project.
About American Veterans Traveling Tribute ("AVTT")
AVTT (www.avtt.org) is a veteran-owned project that travels the USA to provide a forum for communities to HONOR-RESPECT-REMEMBER all who have sacrificed their lives for our country's freedom. In so doing, AVTT also honors all Veterans and those currently serving, by letting them know they will never be forgotten. AVTT is funded through sponsorship fees, donations, and sale of merchandise at events. Donations to support AVTT's mission are qualified charitable tax deductions through The Traveling Wall Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.
Thanks to Sharman Borncamp, Fernanda Maria Chapter, for this information!
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