Friends of Vietnam Vets Plaza honor The Donald with award

Real Estate Weekly, June 11, 2008

The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza announced that Donald J. Trump of The Trump Organization was honored for his unwavering support of United States veterans at the Fourth Annual Honoree of the Year Awards Luncheon that was held on May 22 at The Metropolitan Club during Fleet Week. Greg Kelly of Fox News acted as the event MC and other prominent community and civic leaders including Robert M. Morganthau, District Attorney for New York County were in attendance.

Sixty active members of the US Armed Forces were also present. The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza presented Donald J. Trump with its 2008 Honoree of the Year Award. An philanthropist, Trump has been involved with numerous civic and charitable organizations. In 1982, he was named Co-Chairman of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission, established by Mayor Edward I. Koch, our 2007 award recipient. Their mission was to raise the necessary funds in order to build a memorial in honor of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War, and to create a counseling/employment program for Veterans.

The New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the tenth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War in 1985. The commission raised in excess of three million dollars, funding which had come from New York's citizens, corporations, foundations, unions, and associations. It was Donald Trump's challenge to the City of New York, and his personal contribution of $1 million, that was instrumental in the completion of this project. The moving monument, a translucent glass-block structure etched with excerpts of letters sent to and from servicemen during the Vietnam War, was built in the Vietnam Veterans Plaza at 55 Water Street. The dedication of the Memorial followed a "Welcome Home" parade where more than 25,000 Veterans marched across the Brooklyn Bridge down to Broadway's "Canyon of Heroes." This was the largest ticker-tape parade in New York City's history, and one million New Yorkers lined the streets to offer the Veterans their support and encouragement.

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In the words of Koch, "The New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission will remain as an extraordinary example of how a community can begin to heal the wounds inflicted by the Vietnam War and to pay back the debt it owes to those who have suffered and sacrificed in its service." The Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza are privileged to commemorate Trump's unwavering commitment to all Veterans. In recognition of his continued support, we are honored to have presented Trump with this award.