Union Veterans, Members Clean Vietnam Veterans Memorial

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)In the early hours of August 3, the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council organized a group of national union leaders and activists to participate in the washing of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. As the sun rose over the Three Service Members Statue, volunteers received a welcome from the Vietnam Veterans of America, saluted the memorial and observed a moment of silence. J. David Cox Sr., AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council chairman and AFGE president, led the group of union volunteers in the cleaning of the wall, which bears the names of more than 58,000 service members who perished during the Vietnam War or remain missing. A number of AFL-CIO affiliated unions participated in this service activity including AFGE, Air Line Pilots, AFT, Painters and Allied Trades and Theatrical Stage Employees. Cox said he was “truly honored to be a part of this experience.” Click here to read the rest of Chelsea Bland’s report on the AFL-CIO Now blog.