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Washington, DC – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) spoke at the thirtieth anniversary of the Vietnam War Memorial on the National Mall today, March 26, 2012. Congressman Guthrie, a West Point Graduate and former artillery officer with the 101st Airborne Division, remarked on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s ongoing effort to memorialize the service members who gave their lives in defense of freedom in all wars.

At the invitation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Congressman Guthrie presented a picture of Matt Henson, a fallen Marine from LaRue County, Kentucky, who was lost in Afghanistan. In memory of Matt and in support of all veterans, Congressman Guthrie made the following statement:

“When I was a kid and I came to the National Mall for the first time, it was really all about our larger-than-life heroes who are remembered here: Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. The Vietnam Wall transformed the Mall and now this area is focused on other heroes; all of those who sacrificed, all of those who served, and all who attended this event. Now when people come to Washington, it’s not just about the people who were larger than life, like President Lincoln, but also the people like Matt Hanson who lived large lives but had them cut short because they wanted us to have freedom, opportunity, and hope.”

Congressman Guthrie was joined by Congressman Allen West (FL-22), General Barry McCaffrey (Ret.), Brigadier General George Price (Ret), the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Jan Scruggs, Founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.