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Announces Over $1 Million in Funding for Upcoming Restoration of Plaza
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today attended a ceremony commemorating
the15th anniversary of New York City's Vietnam War Memorial. The Memorial is
located in Vietnam Veteran's Plaza at 55 Water Street in Lower Manhattan.
The Mayor was joined by Vince McGowan, Vietnam Veterans of America; John Rowan,
President of the New York State Vietnam Veterans Council; Lt. Colonel Edward
Kane, United States Army Chaplain; Michael Handy, Director of the Mayor's Office
of Veterans Affairs; and Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern.
"The Vietnam War left a scar on our nation's psyche," Mayor Giuliani said. "Memorials can help heal such scars so those who lost loved ones and those who simply lived through the war can come to terms with it and contemplate its consequences. This City deserves a Vietnam Memorial worthy of the sacrifice that 1,400 New Yorkers made and I am pleased that the City will be contributing over $1 million so this Plaza can make veterans proud."
Vietnam Veteran's Plaza houses the only Memorial in New York City dedicated
to those who served in the Vietnam War. Of the 2.9 million men and women who
fought in the conflict, 250,000 were from New York City and 1,400
of those lost their lives. The Plaza was constructed in 1971 and the Memorial
was placed on the site in 1985. Since then, the Memorial has deteriorated and
suffers from confusing access points and poor attendance.
The upcoming $6 million renovation will completely resurface the Plaza, and install new lighting, seating and plantings. Two welcoming approaches from Broad and Water Streets will lead into the refurbished plaza, and a Walk of Honor will honor the memory of the New Yorkers who served and died in Vietnam. The restored Plaza aims to provide a contemplative setting for people to reflect on the Vietnam War. Ground will be broken later this year.
The public-private partnership to renovate the plaza is being spearheaded by the New Water Street Corporation, the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Vietnam Veterans of America. The coalition is working with the City Parks Foundation to raise the $6 million needed for the project. The New Water Street Corporation has pledged $3 million; the Mayor will allocate at least $1 million for the restoration while Borough President C. Virginia Fields has committed $300,000.
The Memorial itself is 66 feet long and 16 feet high. The statements engraved in the Memorial were chosen from letters, dairy entries, and poems written by Americans during the war as well as from news dispatches and public statements.
www.ci.nyc.ny.us