WHO:
Keynote Speaker - Jay Elkins, brother of the late Corporal Jan A. Elkins, USMC
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 200 Color Guard
The Matinee Idles, a Barbershop Singing Chorus associated with the Chorus of the
Atlantic, Red Bank Area Chapter

WHAT: Memorial Day 2001 Ceremony

WHEN: Monday, May 28, 2001 at 11:00 AM

WHERE: New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, Memorial Lane, Holmdel, NJ
at the Garden State Parkway exit 116 (PNC Bank Arts Center).

DETAILS: Jay Elkins, of East Brunswick, is the brother of the late Corporal Jan A. Elkins, USMC, who died during the Vietnam War.  He will share his viewpoint as a family member of a fallen veteran whose family was drastically affected and changed after his death. Elkins will share elements of living with confusing and conflicting issues surrounding a family member’s life and loss. Jan Elkins died in Vietnam on October 26, 1968, at the age of 20.  He was a unique sort of soldier, born of a family steeped in the arts, engineering and education, and his story presents an interesting balance between civilian life and war experiences.

The Friends of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial will also be awarding two $500 college scholarships during the ceremony.  The recipients of the scholarships are Jill A. Contino of Bogota, graduating from Bogota High School, and Melissa M. Broking of Forked River, graduating from Lacey Township High School.

The Vietnam Era Educational Center, adjacent to the Memorial, will be hosting a book signing by three contributors for the new book Chicken Soup for the Veteran’s Soul including Robert Amon (US Army, Vietnam) of Colonia, Robert Hall (US Marine Corps, Vietnam) of Oaklyn and Ben Yedlin (US Army, WWII) of Princeton.  The Educational Center will be open free of charge 10 AM – 2 PM on Memorial Day.

The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial is open 24 hours, 7 days.  The Educational Center is regularly open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM.  Admission is free for veterans and active-duty military personnel.  Regular adult admission is $4.00, student and senior citizen admission is $2.00, and children under 10 are admitted free.