Letter from President Jan C. Scruggs of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund to President Ronald Reagan asking him to atted the first anniversary of the memorial’s dedication, 10/07/1983

October 7, 1983 RECEIVED OCT 8 1983 VIETNAM President Ronald Reagan VETERANS The White House SCHEDULING MEMORIAL Washington, DC 20500 OFFICE FUND Attn: Fred Ryan Dear President Reagan: DIRECTORS CORPORATE ADVISORY BOARD John P. Wheeler III, Esq.* Chairman Allow me to take this opportunity to express my August A. Busch, III Chairman and President Robert H. Frank, CPA appreciation to you for your help in making the Vietnam Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Treasurer Ronald F. Gibbs* Wayne M. Hoffman Veterans Memorial a reality. The memorial has become an Chairman and Chief Executive Officer George W. Mayo, Jr., Esq.* Tiger International John C. Morrison, Esq.* overwhelming success and has now been visited by over two John G. McElwee Richard E. Radez* President John O. Woods Jr., P.E.* míllion people. We were very honored that you paid a visit John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company STAFF to the memorial to lay a wreath in memory of those who gave 1. Richard Munro their lives in Vietnam. President Jan Craig Scruggs* Time, Inc. President Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. Col. Robert A. Carter, USAF, Ret.* Chairman of the Board Executive Vice President/Secretary Kathie M. Kielich I am writing to you today in order to ask that you be a Pfizer, Inc. Uoyd N. Unsell Administrative Manager/ Director of Public Relations speaker at a historic ceremony marking the first Executive Vice President Independent Petroleum anniversary of the memorial's dedication. The ceremony Association of America NATIONAL SPONSORING COMMITTEE T. A. Wilson will be held on November 11, 1983 at 1:00 p.m. in front of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arnold "Red" Auerbach Boeing Company Pearl Baily the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and will be attended by Marion S. Barry, Jr. Mayor veterans from all across the country. We expect a crowd of District of Columbia about fifty thousand. If you can speak at the ceremony, it Rocky Bleier* Ruben Bonilla would be a great boost to the morale of all who served in League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Vietnam. Invitations have gone out to other speakers The Hon. Ellsworth Bunker including the National Adjutant of the American Legion, The Carol Burnett Jose Cano Honorable Charles Mathias, The Honorable John W. Warner, American C.I. Forum of the U.S. Rosalynn Carter The Honorable John P. Murtha, Brigadier General George The Hon. Max Cleland* Price (USA, Ret.), General John Vessey Jr., Ms. Emogene The Hon. Baltasar Corrada Howard Cosell Cupp of the American Gold Star Mothers and The Honorable Gen. Michael S. Davison, USA, Ret.* Paul Thayer. Mr. Thayer raised over one million dollars Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army, Europe for the memorial when he headed the LTV Corporation. The Hon. Gerald R. Ford and Mrs. Ford Philip Geyelin On behalf of the Chairman of the Board of VVMF, John P. Barry Goldwater United States Senator Wheeler and myself we would be most pleased if you could from Arizona Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. speak. If you are unable to do so we would now like to University of Notre Dame Bob Hope extend the invitation for you to speak at our ceremony on Gen. David C. Jones, USAF (Ret.)* Memorial Day when we plan to install the statue at the Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. National Urban League memorial. If you can speak this Veterans Day we ask that Michael J. Kogutek American Legion your remarks be limited to four minutes and focus upon The Hon. George McGovern Vietnam veterans and on the need for our nation to regain The Hon. Robert P. Nimmo Nancy Reagan national unity after the divisiveness of Vietnam. Carl T. Rowan Willie Stargell Roger Staubach* My highest regard, Jimmy Stewart The Hon. Paul Thayer Deputy Secretary of Defense Sincerely yours The Hon. Cyrus R. Vance Gen. John W. Vessey, Jr.* Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff The Hon. Harry N. Walters Administrator of Veteran Affairs Veterans Administration John W. Warner Jan C. Scruggs United States Senator President from Virginia Gen. William C. Westmoreland, Ret.* Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Army The Hon. Joseph C. Zengerle* CC: Jím Ciconi *Served in Vietnam Affiliations noted for purposes of identification only. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 308, Washington D.C. 20005 (202) 659-2490 October 27, 1983 Dear Mr. Scruggs: On behalf of the President, I want to thank you for inviting him to attend the ceremony planned at the Vietnam Veteran Memorial on November 11. The President wishes that he could be with you on this special day to pay tribute to all our nation's veterans, in particular the Vietnam veterans. Unfortunately, however, the President will be in the Far East on Veterans Day and so will be unable to accept this honor. He has asked me to convey his appreciation for your thoughtfulness in extending this invitation. Although the President will not be able to join you in person, you may be sure he joins with all Americans in honoring the brave men and women who have served in our country's defense. Their dedication and sacrifice must be remembered, not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the year. With best wishes from the President, Sincerely, FREDERICK J. RYAN, JR. Director, Presidential Appointments and Scheduling X Mr. Jan C. Scruggs President Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W. Suite 308 Washington, D.C. 20005 bec: Craig Fuller FJR/sml