“Operation: Final Step” is a presentation geared toward raising sufficient funds to prepare the future site and install the permanent Vietnam Memorial Wall at Lithia – Driveway Park in Medford, Oregon. This presentation outlines the project’s objectives, including creating a time capsule near the wall to hold unit patches from veterans who wish to be remembered. The initiative calls for donations of unit, organizational, or rocker patches, with a suggested contribution of $5 for each patch.
The memorial wall, a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C., has been purchased and stored at a local contractor’s headquarters. The wall spans 8 feet at the center, tapering to 2 feet on each chevron, totaling 360 feet. All 58,479 names on the wall will be displayed, aligned in the same order as the original memorial in Washington, D.C. The project also includes a kiosk system for locating names, a buried Purple Heart at the base of the wall, and a time capsule on the property.
The presentation introduces a local chapter of the Military Order of Purple Heart (MOPH) that donated a purple heart to be placed at the base of the memorial wall and provided the time capsule. The initiative offers recognition opportunities for corporations, individuals, and businesses contributing significantly to the project. There is also a section for purchased plaques to honor donors and the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
The organization behind the project is a licensed 501(c)(3) entity in Oregon with a solid reputation and an A+ rating from the Oregon Department of Justice. They have secured a lease agreement with the City of Medford for the memorial wall’s placement and have established operational guidelines. The presentation mentions that insurance is in place, and contractors, architects, and engineers are ready to proceed with a timeline, budget, and renderings.
The presentation concludes by emphasizing the personal significance of each name on the memorial wall, reflecting the sacrifices made by veterans. It notes that the names are listed chronologically by date of casualty, highlighting the presence of eight nurses’ names next to their fallen brothers on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Contact information and further details about the project are provided for those interested in getting involved or learning more.
