The Vietnam Veterans Educational Center

By Mariann Chew
A few months ago I wrote an article on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and the plans to build an Educational Center.  The ground was officially broken for the Educational Center at the Wall.  It will be located Northeast of the Lincoln Memorial.  The 35,000-square foot underground museum will display photos “Wall Of Faces” of the 58,282 Americans killed in the Vietnam War, It will honor their sacrifices.  The center will tell the story of the Wall’s names for future generations of Americans through photographs, narrations and interactive exhibits.    Also showcased, will be samples of the hundreds of thousands of personal items placed at the memorial.  The memorial, dedicated in 1982 cost $8.2 million to build.  The Educational Center, scheduled to be completed in 2014, will cost an estimated $85 million.  Of which $48 million has already been raised.  The Education Center will enhance the experience of those visiting the Wall and keep this legacy alive for years.
I would like to acknowledge and thank Jim Valentine for providing me with my information.