Veterans Plaque to Kristofferson for Benefit Winds Up in Trash

Vietnam veterans presented a plaque to singer Kris Kristofferson after a benefit concert, but it was found in the garbage after the performance.

The singer performed Tuesday night at the Coliseum Theater in a benefit concert for the Albany Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee. He was given a plaque thanking the “singer, songwriter, actor, for lending his unselfish support in the funding for the Albany County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument.”

Philip Cohen, an owner of the theater, said a worker cleaning up the singer’s dressing room Wednesday morning found the plaque left behind in a pile of trash.

“He’s saying ‘I support the Vietnam veterans’ to the public because it’s the ‘in’ thing to do, and then we go out the back door and find this,” Cohen said, adding that Kristofferson was paid for the show.

However, a spokeswoman for the performer’s manager said the plaque ended up in the garbage accidentally.

“They’re making every effort to get the plaque sent to us,” she said. “Kris is very committed to the Vietnam vets. It was just a silly accident.”