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Morning News

Jan Scruggs Discusses Vietnam Veterans Christmas Fund

Aired December 21, 2000 - 10:22 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the nation's capital at this hour, volunteers decorating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the holiday. More than 58,000 Americans died in that war, and the memorial now is the most visited monument in Washington.

Jan Scruggs came up with the idea of building that memorial. He is a Vietnam veteran and founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Christmas Fund.

Good morning to you, sir, happy holidays.

JAN SCRUGGS, VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND: Pleasure to be here.

HEMMER: The Christmas program is not necessarily brand new. How did it get started?

SCRUGGS: There was a desire for many people who lost friends and relatives in the Vietnam War to sort of do something to help the empty feeling, and they started sending cards and letters. So we began putting them on a Christmas tree here at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

HEMMER: How are things this year?

SCRUGGS: There were over 3,000 very meaningful and touching letters and notes that were left for the casualties that gave their lives in Vietnam.

HEMMER: You mentioned a couple words there, meaningful and touching. Can you take us through some of the responses that you are hearing?

SCRUGGS: Some of the responses we're hearing are from grandchildren, are from mothers, brothers and friends, who are saying to the people who aren't at the Christmas table this year that we -- we really miss you.

HEMMER: Jan, can you tell us for people watching this program right now how they might be able to participate, maybe not necessarily this year, if it's too late, but maybe next year?

SCRUGGS: What we'd like you to do is think what you would like to leave at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A special message, even if you didn't know anyone who served in the Vietnam War, and called our office in Washington, and we'd like to place it at the Christmas tree next year. It is really a great way to pay tribute to all of our nation's veterans, as we also remember the brave servicemen and woman who are on active duty all over the world. It's just a really great event, and it is important that we, as a nation, remember these soldiers, past and present.

HEMMER: Excellent idea. Where would you like the program to go?

SCRUGGS: I would really like this program to expand and to get more prominent people involved in it. But the important thing is that today we've remembered and we had a magnificent little ceremony with a group of youngsters here, and it was a very special day for them.

HEMMER: Jan Scruggs.

SCRUGGS: Thank you.

HEMMER: Please, finish your thought.

SCRUGGS: This memorial is all about healing. It's all about education, and we are trying to build an education center here at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and we hope to complete that next year. The only problem we're having right now is Senator Phil Gramm, but we hope to overcome his opposition soon.

HEMMER: Best of luck with everything. Jan Scruggs, Vietnam Veterans Memorial there in Washington, D.C.

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