WASHINGTON, July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) Board of Directors today elected Jim Knotts as president of VVMF. Knotts was named CEO in October 2014 and adds the title of president with today's election. Knotts succeeds VVMF Founder Jan Scruggs, who will remain as President Emeritus.  A retirement gala will be held in honor of Jan Scruggs on November 4, 2015.

"It was Jan's vision that gave Vietnam veterans a memorial to call their own and we thank him for his many years of service to our nation's veterans. I'm honored to continue the work of VVMF and I'm committed to ensuring that future generations are educated about the Vietnam era and the legacy of service in America," said Knotts.

Scruggs conceived the idea of building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. He launched the effort with $2,800 of his own money and gradually gained the support needed to build the Memorial in 1982. A retirement gala will be held in his honor on November 4, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the gala will go toward continuing the mission that Scruggs started to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War. For more information on the gala, please visit: www.vvmf.org/gala.

About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF is dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of service and educating all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War.

Three decades later, the mission continues as VVMF raises funds to build the Education Center at The Wall. The Center will be an interactive learning facility on the National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall and honor America's Legacy of Service, including those serving in our nation's Armed Forces today. The lead gift for the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall was provided by Time Warner, Inc. To learn more about VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall, visit www.vvmf.org or call 866-990-WALL.

Contact: Heidi Zimmerman
Phone: (202) 393-0090, ext. 118
hzimmerman@vvmf.org

SOURCE Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

Related Links

http://www.vvmf.org