The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation--which oversees Washington's famed "The Wall" memorial honoring the fallen during the Vietnam War--aims to build an Education Center on the National Mall.

The Center will have two defining elements:

(1) The Wall of Faces: A rotating display of photographs of the more than 58,000 men and women whose names are listed on The Wall

(2) The Collection: an exhibit of thousands of personal items and objects that have been left at The Wall over the last 30 years, and which are collected each night by the National Park Service (NPS), cataloged, and stored in a restricted-access facility in Virginia.

Here a Harley-Davidson motorcycle left at The Wall, with names of the fallen painted on the bike in the style of the names engraved on the memorial. 

The bike at  the event's reception area. The venue: the stately National Building Museum.

Two of the nearly 300 guests attending inspect the bike on display.

Visitors to The Wall leave tributes there, including letters and objects. Every night, staff collects and catalogs every item left there, which included this motorcycle.

The event team keyed on the powerful pull of the mementos left at The Wall by displaying five cases of artifacts from those who served and items left by family members at The Wall.

The display varies from ostentatious (a silver punch bowl) to everyday (a six-pack of beer).

The items are moving and personal—a teddy bear made of a poncho liner, and General Peter Pace’s own personal epaulette stars with handwritten notes to the men lost under his command  (in images at right). 

Guests at the reception.

In attendance were sponsors and donors, as well as stakeholders such as the National Park Service, the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Fund, the Korean Vietnam War Veterans Association, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, members of Congress, and members of the diplomatic corps representing allies in the Vietnam War.

A poignant collection of mementos.

A silver punch bowl and goblets left at The Wall.

On display, epaulette stars from General Peter Pace to honor his fallen troops.

An infant sweater left to honor a fallen Marine, age 20, by his mother.

The third-story galleries display images of fallen soldiers at the peak of youth, projected onto three 20-foot screens, changing slowly with a soft fade.

Drawing guests further into the space are three 7-by-7-foot backlit photographs: a child touches The Wall, dog tags hang against the background of the American flag, and two Vietnam veterans pay tribute to their fallen comrade on The Wall.

The images reinforce the themes of healing, honoring those who served, and inspiring future generations.

A view of the dining area in the venue's Great Hall.

From the upper story arcades, the stage backdrop is a cascade of gray and white against a field of blue with a dramatic touch of red swag—all keeping with the client’s brand and budget.

Two rows of massive Corinthian columns (among the largest in the world) divide the Great Hall into a center court with a fountain and an east and a west court on each side.

Tables are elegant and formal, befitting the honor and tribute about to be presented.

Linens are a rich pewter color, evocative of “Navy Ship Gray” in honor of the military audience, and dinner plates are white with a silver architectural-style rim.

Centerpieces create a pop of deep red with bouquets of red roses in white glass vases. 

The evening's program.

While the themes of this event are serious, the event team wanted guests to feel entertained and uplifted.

The team turned to country and Americana music that was varied in tone, tempo, voice, style and era: Josh Turner to Dolly Parton, Allison Krause to Lyle Lovett.

Toby Keith’s “Made in America” heralded guests into the dining room. Many were singing and shaking their hips as they walked in.

For dinner, the team turned to classical music, opening with Brahms Serenade #2 Rondo Allegro, which has a lively, military feel, followed by Aaron Copland, for the “home on the range” feel, and other American composers.

Country artist and veteran Rockie Lynne played a set of his music after dinner.

The anthem color guard.

A sweet finale: Patriotic cookies.