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jlf1961 -> The only memorial where this is done. (11/11/2017 1:30:12 PM)
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Anyone who has visited the Vietnam war memorial has no doubt seen the many items left at the wall.
Items ranging from combat ribbons to pictures, letters, even a custom motorcycle have been left at the wall.
After the memorial was dedicated, those in charge of cleaning the grounds were at a loss at what to do with the items left, many could not bring themselves to throw the items away and just stored them in closets and rooms with no clear idea what to do with them.
In 1984, the regional National Parks Service curator found out about these items and decided to make an official catalog of the items and store them in the regional collections storage facility.
To date, the collection consists of over 1400 items including a race car hood and a helicopter blade from a Huey Helicopter.
The ultimate goal is to display these items for the public in the future when a facility either is built or becomes available. At present, periodically the Smithsonian Museum displays the items in one of its buildings.
Interestingly enough, the custom built motorcycle was built by a group of veterans from Wisconsin, and left at the memorial with the note that the bike was not to be started or ridden until all the war missing from Wisconsin are brought home or accounted for.
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