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Three Servicemen Statue SouthA Southeastern Region Vietnam Veterans Memorial Located in Apalachicola, Florida
What Is It?
The Vietnam VeteransMemorial was established in1979 by a group of Vietnam
veterans as a symbol of the nation’shonor and recognition of the men andwomen who served in the Vietnam Warduring the mid-1950s through the early1970s.
The Memorial, located in Consti-tution Gardens at the National Mall inWashington D.C., is known for the“Wall of Honor” inscribed with thenames of more than 58,000 persons whogave their lives during the Vietnam Waror remain missing. Another importantelement of the Vietnam Veterans Me-morial is a larger than life-size bronzesculpture that was added in 1984 as amoving evocation of the experience andservice of the Vietnam veteran.
Known as the Three ServicemenStatue, this memorialwas designed by thelate Frederick Hart, arenowned Americansculptor. He envi-sioned replicas to belocated throughoutthe United States as anationwide tribute toVietnam veterans.
The History
Events and Progress Volume I, No. 1 Winter 2002
TheStatueT he bronze
sculpture de-picts a realistic imageof Vietnam service-men, and is a symbol
Sept. 11 National TragedyUnifies Local Effort ToRemember War Veterans
“Donations to this effort are now more personal,”- Jimmy Mosconis - Three Servicemen Statue South
VeteransMemorialWebsiteEstablished
Three Servicemen Statue SouthOfficers and Board of Directors
OFFICERSJimmy G. Mosconis, Founder & PresidentDespina George, TreasurerMark Curenton, Secretary
BOARD OF DIRECTORSAl Mirabella, Jr.James S. ElliottJoseph KnightHelen Townsend SpohrerJerald S. Ward
Nick Yonclas, Esquire, Legal Counsel “The tragedy of September 11 has probably donemore to unify this country in a spirit of patriot-ism than any other event since Pearl Harbor,”
says Jimmy Mosconis, the president of the Three Ser-vicemen Statue South organization.
Mosconis, a decorated Vietnam Veteran himself,is spearheading the Florida-based effort along withthe President of the National Vietnam Veterans orga-
nization, Jan Scruggs, as a way to remember Vietnam Veterans nationwide.Events of September 11 have given volunteers and contributors to the
Florida Vietnam Veterans project a whole new perspective on its signifi-cance.
“We get notes and letters from folks that really touch your heart,”says Mosconis. “And we’ve received support from some pretty remotesources,” he added, noting a donation from a gentleman from England.
“Everyone is looking at this project with a renewed patriotism andsupport for all our military servicemen and women who are currently fight-ing for freedom. Donations to this effort are now more personal.”
So far the Three Servicemen Statue South Organization has raised$80,000 in donations for the $1.5 million project.
Not surprisingly, says Mosconis, most of the support for the projecthas come from veterans of all military branches.
“We’ve received donations and support from men and women ofall military branches - not just Vietnam Veterans,” Mosconis says. “Obvi-ously, this is a memorial intended to honor Vietnam Veterans but it touchesveterans of all military service in the South.
The organization is currently awaiting a site review of three po-tential Apalachicola-based memorial locations from nationally renownedWashington architect Dr. Harry Robinson. Once the preliminary reviewsare complete, the organization, along with the City of Apalachicola, will
finalize the memorial location.
T he Three Servicemen StatueSouth organization recentlyuploaded its nationally-linked
website which is appropriately entitled“www.threeservicemenstatutesouth.org.”
The site features the history of theproject as well as project updates and anonline contribution form.
The site has already caught the eyeof several veterans groups who have linkedit to their site, including the Vietnam
threeservicemenstatutesouth.org.
Continued on page 2
VVMF Founder and President JanScruggs, along with nationally
acclaimed Washington architect Dr.Harry Robinson, traveled to
Apalachicola during the fall to do apreliminary site survey for placementof the Three Servicemen Statue South
replica.
ContributionLevels SetThe Three Servicemen StatueSouth organization recentlyadopted sponsor categories forcontributors. To find out aboutthose contribution levels or to seehow you can help make a differ-ence, please fill out the form onthe back and mail to: Three Ser-vicemen Statue South, P.O. Box68, Apalachicola, FL 32329
Three Servicemen Statue SouthP.O. Box 68Apalachicola, FL 32329
BULK RATEU.S. Postage
PAIDApalachicola
Permit #8
Continued on back
What Will TheStatue Mean forthe Southeast?
Apalachicola is representative of themany small Southern towns that werehome for large numbers of Vietnam ser-vice members. It is expected that theThree Servicemen Statue South will be-come a popular destination for thosewanting to pay tribute to the men andwomen who served and sacrificed dur-ing the Vietnam War.
The WarThe Vietnam war was the longest inour nation’s history. Approximately2.7 million Americans served in thewar zone; 300,000 were wounded,approximately 75,000 permanentlydisabled, and more than 58,000 werekilled.
The American advisory role beganin the mid- 1950s. In 1964, U.S.
personnel numbered approximately20,000. By passing the “Gulf ofTonkin” Resolution on August 7, 1964,the U.S. Congress authorized the Presi-dent “to take all necessary measures torepel any armed attack against the forcesof the United States and to prevent fur-ther aggression.” In March 1965, thefirst American combat troops landed inVietnam. In mid-1969, at the height ofU.S. involvement, American militarypersonnel in Vietnam numbered550,000. Under a treaty signed byNorth Vietnam, South Vietnam, theViet Cong and the United States, a ceasefire went into effect on January 28,1973. On April 30, 1975, the Govern-ment of the Republic of Vietnam sur-rendered to the advancing North Viet-namese forces and all remaining U.S.civilian and military personnel wereevacuated.
During the war, American service-men and women served their countrywith heroism and determination undersome of the most difficult circumstancesever encountered. Tragically, upon theirreturn home they received virtually norecognition for their service and sacri-fice because of the raging domestic con-troversy over U.S. policy in conductingthe war.
All contributions are tax deductible under the 501(C)3 provisions of this organization. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REG-ISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SER-VICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY EN-DORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
Yes! I Want To Help!
Veterans Motorcycle Club located at“www.usa_vet.home.att.net/index.html.Any Vietnam Veterans group interestedin linking the Three Servicemen StatueSouth website to theirs should contact:Jimmy Mosconis, 850-653-1318.
Continued from page 1
Project CommentsAs contributions are received, many people include poignant and insightfulcomments. We’d like to share some with you as we receive them.
ProjectPublicityIncreases
The Three Servicemen StatueSouth organization recently created 500 fundraiser packets
which include a cover letter, missionstatement, letters from Jan Scruggs andApalachicola Mayor Alan Pierce, and ap-plicable news articles.
The group is grateful for all of thepublicity that was generated as a resultof team member David Butler's efforts.Butler recently traveled to a D-Day Mu-seum opening of the Pacific Theater Ex-hibit in New Orleans and distributed ourmaterial in addition to his World War IImaterials. Thank you very much, David.David also displayed our posters, and theyare back in the office if anyone else needsthem for a fundraiser or booth.
The Prudential Resort Realty Holi-days 2001 Vacation Rental Guide mailedout recently displays an article and photoof the Three Servicemen Statue Southproject with a request for contributions.Thank you very much, Helen Spohrer,Board member and owner of Resort Re-alty for the wonderful publicity.
This newsletter will also be distributed in an online format in coming months. If,in the interest of saving paper and postage, you would rather receive the onlineversion, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].
“...Thank you for your contribution to our country.” - Jim Y. (USAF NHN Frang, VNam 1967-68)
“I think you and your friends have come up with a wonderful idea. Itwould be such an asset to Apalachicola. Hopefully, I will be gettingmore people interested in this project. My heart will always be in ourhometown as my family demonstrated in the past.”
- Mrs. Kathryn T.“I would like to tell you how delighted I am with your efforts onbehalf of the Three Servicemen Statue. You certainly deserve thethanks of all of us. I’m sending this contribution in the name of mylate husband, Lt. Col. John V. Sherlock who was a veteran of WWII,Korea, and Vietnam.”
- Mrs. Vivian S.“Saw and read write-up in News Herald this a.m. and want to be apart of your great goal! I served with 13th ABN Div. in WWII asyoung paratrooper and CG-4A Glider rider, so I do have an under-standing of what is hoped for and I know you will succeed.”
- Richard D.
Where Will It BePlaced?I n honor of Frederick
Hart’s wishes, the Vietnam VeteransMemorial Fund, Inc. and the FrederickHart Estate decided to replicate the firstof the Three Servicemen Statues for place-ment in the Southeast, the geographicalregion from which the majority of Viet-nam soldiers hailed.
Apalachicola, Florida will be the siteof the first Three Servicemen Statue rep-lica. Located in the Florida Panhandle re-gion, Apalachicola is 85 miles south of thestate capital of Tallahassee.
of their courage and devotion to theircountry. The three men represent vari-ous ethnic backgrounds.
Continued from page 1
How Can I?Effort to bring the Three Servicemen Statue project to Apalachicola are funded primarily by private
donations. The estimated cost of replicating the Three Servicemen Statue and associated memorialfacilities is $1.5 million. If you are interested in helping to bring this memorial tribute to VietnamVeterans to Apalachicola, please fill out the contribution form (on the back) and send your tax deductibledonation to: Three Servicemen Statue South, Inc., 99 Market Street, Suite 204, P.O. Box 68,Apalachicola, Florida 32329. (850) 653-1318, www.threeservicemenstatuesouth.org.
Name
Address
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Email:
CONTRIBUTION LEVEL:
Bronze: Up to $99 Amount:Silver: $100 - $999 Amount:Gold: $1000 - $9,999 Amount:Platinum: $10,000 - $99,999 Amount:Diamond: $100,000 and up Amount:
Corporate Sponsorships also available. All contributions are tax deductible. Please submit check or money order to:Three Servicemen Statue South, P.O. Box 68, Apalachicola, FL 32329www.threeservicemenstatutesouth.org Email: [email protected]
