The Trust for the National Mall interviewed Laurie Ruffino, a volunteer on the National Mall and Vietnam War veteran from the 199th Infantry, who shared a special, chance encounter he had at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with two veterans who served in the same unit as him, as well as his experience as a volunteer and a welcoming face for the over five million visitors who come to see the Wall on the National Mall.
Read MoreThe Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service honored their Volunteers of the Year during a ceremony on the National Mall on December 3. Learn about our 2021 Volunteer Partner, Volunteer Group, Individual Volunteer and New Volunteer Awardees here. The Trust and NPS are grateful for its committed and ever-expanding corps of volunteers on the National Mall.
Read MoreThe volunteers who serve at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) are a dedicated group with a strong sense of community. Many of the volunteers are veterans of the Vietnam War or volunteer at the Memorial to honor their loved ones who served. Every Memorial Day, the team honors their Vietnam veterans with a wreath laying ceremony presented by the volunteer corps.
Read MoreThe Tidal Basin holds a storied place in the national imagination, but its future is under threat. Your input is essential to the Ideas Lab process. Together, we can produce visionary world-class solutions, build consensus, generate public awareness, and reimagine what the Tidal Basin can be.
Read MoreSpring is upon us once again in Washington D.C.! We eagerly await the cherry blossom blooms and the revival of our #BloomCam to watch the blooming season unfold before our eyes. So many beautiful photos are shared out from the National Mall to capture this great season with perfect weather, great lighting, and a majestic background all around you. While we stay safe at home, we can enjoy the stunning views of the National Mall through the amazing photos that are captured.
Read MoreWhen the Tidal Basin is abloom with its annual display of pink and white petals, we take time to remember the presidential first ladies. Helen Taft was the first presidential spouse to observe the traditional Japanese custom of hanami, or flower watching, in the United States. Subsequent first ladies have continued the tradition of DC’s “spring rite” as honorary chairs of the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Read MoreIn celebration of Women's History Month, we are sharing the stories of some of the amazing women on the National Mall - our volunteers! With their unique backgrounds and perspectives, they enliven the National Mall and enrich visitors' experiences. These women share why they volunteer, what the experience means to them, and highlight some of the women who inspire them, both on and off the Mall!
Read MoreCandace Harman joined the volunteer corps in 2017 and has served at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and World War II Memorial. Candace has been volunteering at the Eisenhower Memorial since it opened in September 2020, after her trip to Normandy inspired a new appreciation for Eisenhower’s leadership during World War II. Candace has a long history with the National Mall, as she worked there as a seasonal Park Ranger at the beginning of her career.
Read MoreLynn Addington joined the National Mall volunteer team when the Eisenhower Memorial opened in September, and she has been an engaged member ever since, participating in both the Interpretation and Research teams. Lynn's experience as an educator is so useful in creating interpretive experiences that are engaging and accessible to people of multiple ages and backgrounds. Her favorite part of the Eisenhower Memorial is the young Ike statue because the statue is life size rather than heroic size. Lynn says, "When I meet visitors – especially families – I like to highlight this statue, as both the size and his age make Eisenhower seem more approachable. It’s also a great way to start a conversation about his early years and education."
Read MoreMary Beth Moore joined the National Mall volunteer team in 2014 and has served in a number of roles, including providing support at special events, visitor services across the National Mall, and, most recently, interpretation at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. Having lived in DC for over 40 years, Mary Beth has an in-depth knowledge of the city and is an amazing resource for visitors and locals alike. Mary Beth’s background in public health provides valuable perspective on Eisenhower and Oveta Culp Hobby’s work with the Department of Health, Education, and Wellness and the current historical context which volunteers serve the public in today.
Read MoreMorgan Anderson has been volunteering at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial since its opening in September 2020, but her involvement began with the Memorial’s groundbreaking in 2017 as a member of Senator Pat Roberts’s team. Morgan is a native Kansan, and her childhood visits to Eisenhower’s home in Abilene first sparked her interest in Dwight Eisenhower, Morgan’s favorite president. Morgan's personal connections to Eisenhower and the Memorial give her a new perspective that has inspired many memorable visitor connections on site, including enriching Major General John F. Hussey, Commanding General of the 200th Military Police Command’s trip to the 34th President’s memorial.
Read MoreThe cherry trees on the National Mall have more than 100 years of rich and vibrant history. At the root of their story are a few powerful and trailblazing women who have changed the National Mall environment to how we know it today. As our community comes together to celebrate the cherry blossom season, the Trust for the National Mall is celebrating Women’s History Month, recognizing the women who aligned their strengths to enrich the National Mall with our iconic cherry trees.
Read MoreThe National Mall and Memorial Parks (NAMA) Division of the National Park Service is looking to the future of tree management on the National Mall, and are implementing innovative solutions to protect both the national landscape of the National Mall and to ensure the safety of park visitors.
Read MoreThroughout the National Mall’s history, African Americans have helped shape every aspect of its development: from the land and buildings to the ways in which we view and experience this iconic space. Below we highlight some of the African American thought leaders, community leaders, business leaders, performers and others who have influenced the National Mall and who continue to build its robust future.
Read MoreWilbur Snyder, a West Point graduate, served for twenty-five years in active duty. He was stationed in Germany, studied Russian, served in the Pentagon in the intelligence part of joint staff doing arms control inspections in the former Soviet Union, and served one tour at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in a unique unit called the Psychological Operations. He is a volunteer at the newly-opened Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.
Read MoreVeteran Don Adam has been a volunteer on the National Mall with the National Park Service since 2002. Adam has volunteered over 20,000 hours at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in honor of his cousin and comrades who gave the ultimate sacrifice. On August 25, 2020 Adams received the George & Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. The virtual ceremony was hosted by the National Park Foundation. Adams spent four years in the US Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He served in Japan and South Vietnam.
Read MoreVeteran and volunteer on the National Mall Hank Lazzaro shares the importance of these memorials to educate visitors from around the world about the sacrifices the men and women made in conflict, and to heal those who served. Lazzaro served a 13-month tour in Vietnam and was in the Marine Corps Reserves, totaling 11 years of Marine Corps service. After he graduated from law school he spent 32 years with the Navy, retiring as a Captain. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps; when he left there to go into the Navy to be Captain, he served in the Judge Advocate General Corps. In total, he had 11 years in active-duty time and 32 years reserve time.
Read MoreRetired Senior Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, Harry F. Miller honorably served the United States from World War II through the Vietnam War. Over the course of his more than twenty-year career in the military, Miller experienced “The Battle of the Bulge,” tours in Vietnam, Korea and Japan, the Cuban Missle Crisis and so much in between.
Read MoreAs the Founder and Chairman of the commercial real estate firm bearing his name, John “Chip” Akridge is an innovator in the industry, a committed advocate of community initiatives in the Washington, D.C. region, and a dedicated supporter of philanthropic and charitable organizations. He has served as a member of the Economic Development and Executive Committees of the Federal City Council, and as chairman of the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s Emergency Preparedness Task Force. He has received numerous industry awards and is a strong advocate for the environment. He has served on the boards of leading environmental nonprofits and various agencies of the city government. Chip is a Distinguished Eagle Scout and a Vietnam veteran.
We talked with Chip about his own experience as a veteran, what he hopes visitors take away from their visits to the memorials, and what he wants to share with those who can’t be here in person.
Read MoreWe asked a select group of veterans -- some of whom are in our volunteer corps -- to share stories about their service to the nation and how their acts and views of service have evolved over time. They share a range of experiences and their personal perspectives on what the memorials on the National Mall mean to them, and what they hope others will find when they visit these special, iconic places. By bringing their stories to our readers, we hope you will be inspired to learn more about their lives and to learn more about the veterans in your own lives who have stories to share.
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