The Westchester Veteran's Memorial Committee (WVMC) invites the public to attend a full day of ceremonies, activities and exhibits on Sunday, October 19, 1997 to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Vietnam War Memorial, a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the "Trail of Honor" and a preview of the Korea War Memorial.

This event will take place in Lasdon Park -- the scenic site of a revolutionary war outpost, where George Washington placed runners to observe British troop movements in the area. Visitors will be invited to explore a quarter mile Trail of Honor, along which eleven nationally-recognized busts -- commemorating U.S. conflicts from the revolutionary war to Desert Storm -- will be placed on a time line, along the way to the Vietnam and Korean War memorials.

Following a VIP and press reception at 10:00 A.M., Paul Bucha, president of the USA Congressional Medal of Honor Society will preside over the ceremonies, which begin at 10:30 A.M., featuring state and local government representatives, business leaders and veterans associations. The United States Military Academy Band and the Westchester County Police Emerald Society Pipe Band will be performing. The ceremony will open with a parade by active military units, veterans groups, Boy Scouts, the New York National Guard and other organizations and highlighted at 1:00 P.M. with a benediction and a 21 gun salute honoring veterans who passed away during the Vietnam and Korean conflicts.

Throughout the day, visitors will be invited to view the "Moving Wall", a 256 foot long half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. which has traveled the United States and features all of the 58,000 names of U.S. men and women who died in the Vietnam conflict. The Lasdon main house, modeled after George Washington's Mt. Vernon estate, will be opened to the public and fitted with photos and memorabilia to commemorate U.S. conflicts, including the first and second World War, Vietnam and Desert Storm

WVMC Chairman, Richard W. Dwyer noted, "Next year in October of 1998 we plan to formally open the Korean War Memorial to pay special tribute to the U.S., Korean and allied soldiers who died during a conflict which many consider to be America's forgotten war. Our Korean War Memorial will be the first in the U.S. to feature a foreign allied soldier. By including a Korean, alongside U.S. soldiers, we hope to honor the many foreign nations who have fought alongside U.S. soldiers in the days since George Washington stationed his troops in nearby Armonk."

"To reinforce the importance of the Korean War in American history, we are planning a very special operation next year. "Operation Hold the High Ground" will seek to unite a military constituency from the Republic of Korea with Air Cavalry New York and the New York Army Reserves to jointly transport, and install 30,000 four inch stones to pave the Trail of Honor along the road to the Korea War Memorial. We have already begun to seek the necessary approvals."

Lasdon Park is located in Somers, New York, a 40 minute ride from White Plains. To reach the Memorial site, take Route 287 (NYS Thruway) to Route 684 North to Brewster. Take Exit 6 (Katonah Cross River-Route 35). Turn right at Exit 6 to traffic light. Turn left at light on Route 35 over bridge, and go straight about 3 1/2 miles from Route 6. You will pass over another bridge. When you see the large hedges on your left, make a left through the iron gate to enter Lasdon Estate to the Memorial site. Signs will be posted along this route and escorts onto the site will be provided.

For additional information on the October 19, 1997 ceremony, the VIP and press reception and the WVMC, please contact:

Keith W. Rabin of KWR International at 212-799-4294, fax 212-799-0517, e-mail: kwrintl@kwrintl.com