Contact: Dr. W. Scott Magill, 417-886-8499

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- During the Rolling Thunder Rally at the Vietnam Memorial, the Veterans in Defense of Liberty (VIDOL) launched a one-year "Vietnam Veterans Thank You Card from America" campaign.

The purpose of this nationwide effort is to repay that long-overdue debt of gratitude owed by our great nation to these deserving American heroes. It is not political, accusatory, or apologetic. It is solely for the purpose of finally doing the right thing while many Vietnam Veterans are still alive.

The official presentation ceremony will occur on Memorial Day 2013 at the Vietnam Memorial. The card will be presented by a civilian delegation to a receiving delegation of Vietnam veterans. The many small greeting cards received during the campaign will be displayed at the Vietnam Memorial, and then permanently housed in its official archives.

A Thank You card will be produced for Americans to sign. It will read:

To the heroic men and women who served in America's military during the Vietnam War:

Thank you for your service and sacrifices. Thank you for answering when your country called. Thank you for bringing honor to our great nation and its awesome military.

We salute you and will honor your memory for as long as the United States of America exists.

God bless you,

_____________________________________
Another Grateful American

 
The goal is to collect the most signatures ever listed on a greeting card in history, with the total certified by Guinness Book of World Records. Nothing less would be as meaningful. Names are signed on a peel-&-stick label inside a small thank you card. The card is returned to VIDOL, and the label is then affixed to the official campaign Thank You card, which will be large enough for the millions of signatures we seek.

Concurrently, the campaign will invite signers to petition the U.S. Congress for a full accounting of all American prisoners of war and missing in action personnel.

Dr. W. Scott Magill, Executive Director of VIDOL, said few Vietnam veterans ever thanked for their service.

"In all of American history, no military troops returning from war were ever treated with more contempt than the heroes who served in Vietnam. There were no ticker tape parades, no awards ceremonies, and no invitations to speak waiting for them. Instead, the nation's homecoming for our heroes ranged from avoidance and shame to outright hostility and condemnation," he said.

"This act of national gratitude has been delayed far too long. Therefore, let us act with all the energy and resources available, so the greatest number of these heroes may live to see an enormous outpouring of respect, thanks and love directed at them from a grateful nation," Magill said.

Actress Connie Stevens is serving as Honorary Chairman of the one-year campaign.