AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE MEMORIAL REACHES 90% OF FUNDRAISING GOAL

DELRAY BEACH, FL --

The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. has secured 90 percent of funding needed to break ground on the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial (AVDLM) in Washington DC, announced the Foundation's Co-founder and Chairperson Lois Pope. With the final phase of the fundraising campaign now kicking into gear, Pope added that $5.9 million must still be raised through corporate and individual donations before the Memorial can become a reality.

Unlike other war and veteran memorials, the AVDLM will be dedicated to both living and deceased disabled veterans, including army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard. The focal point of the Memorial design will be a star-shaped reflecting pool, its surface broken by a single eternal flame. A grove of trees will stand sentry beside the pool, symbolizing the persistence of hope. Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd., of Alexandria, Virginia, designed the Memorial following a national invitational design competition.

“When Congress approved the Memorial for Washington DC and President Clinton signed it into law, one of the stipulations was that 100 percent of the money needed to design, build and maintain the Memorial had to come from private donations,” said Pope. “And the Foundation, which was created to raise these funds, must have all the funds in place before construction can begin. We're almost there.”

The Memorial will command an impressive two-acre site between Washington Avenue SW (Canal Street), C Street SW and Second Street SW, in Washington DC. It will be within full view of the United States Capitol, adjacent to the National Mall, and across from Independence Avenue and the United States Botanic Garden.

“It is important to remember that of the 26 million American veterans living across the world today, three million are permanently disabled from injuries suffered in our nation's defense,” said actor, director and musician Gary Sinise, the Memorial's national spokesperson. ”It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to recognize the sacrifices that our country's disabled veterans have made on behalf of us all.”

The Foundation anticipates breaking ground on the Memorial in 2010. The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit and donations are deductible to the fullest extent of the law. To make a donation, or for more information, visit www.avdlm.org.

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