Vietnam Memorial Adds Plaque

A granite plaque was unveiled Thursday near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor uncounted veterans who died after their war service from the lasting effects of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange, post-traumatic stress disorder or other unseen wounds.

A grass-roots group, the Vietnam War in Memory Memorial, raised money and lobbied for the plaque, which was approved by Congress in April 2000. Later, more financing and design work were provided by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which wanted to ensure the monument would fit in at the three-acre site.

The granite plaque, 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, 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.”