Nicole Raz
WMAL
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — People have been leaving tributes and keepsakes by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial since it opened in 1982—and the National Park Service has kept them. Over 400,000 items and 52,000 square feet later, the Maryland warehouse they use to store everything is running out of space.
“We’ve got everything from uniform parts, combat boots, letters from soldiers to their family members, very personal items like that, to things like school projects,” says National Park Service spokesperson Mike Litterst. “Visiting schools will make things like letters and cards in honor and memory of the soldiers and leave those behind.”
The Park Service is now considering new guidelines for their staff to determine which objects to keep long term and which items to “be respectfully disposed of” as a space-saving measure.
Developed with assistance from museum professionals and Vietnam veterans, the proposed changes specify that the National Park Service would only keep personal artifacts of those soldiers whose names appear on the memorial; Vietnam War military service items; and protest, activism, and advocacy materials related to the war.
“A lot of times there will be notes left behind that come with them at the time the donation is made with background information,” he said. “Research can provide that link.”
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted through March 10, and Litterst told WMAL that a final draft will be decided upon by mid-year.
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