CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- On Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. the 5th Marines Vietnam War Memorial will be officially unveiled and dedicated in the Camp San Mateo Memorial Garden.

With over 1,000 people expected to attend the event, there will be dozens of Vietnam veterans and Gold Star families present. Keynote speakers for the dedication will include Maj. Gen. Eric Smith, Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, Lt. Col. John Gianopoulos, Executive Officer, 5th Marine Regiment, and Nicholas Warr, retired Marine and author of “Phase Line Green: The Battle for Hue.”

Following the unveiling of the memorial, Vietnam veterans and Gold Star families will be allowed to view the memorial prior to its public opening. Both Lt. Col. Gianopoulos and Mr. Warr will be made available for interviews in a designated area following the conclusion of the events.

Media interested in covering the event must RSVP no later than noon, May 25, to 2nd Lt. Samuel Banks at samuel.banks@usmc.mil or by phone at (760) 725-9913. Upon finalizing the list of media attending, detailed coordinating instructions will be sent to interested media.

Photo, video package, and video B-Roll imagery from the event will be released by the 1st Marine Division Press Office and made available for media use. This imagery can be found on the 1st Marine Division page at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/1MD.

For additional queries, please contact the 1st Marine Division media officer 2nd Lt. Samuel Banks at (760) 725-9913 or email samuel.banks@usmc.mil

-USMC-