About the Foundation

The mission of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. is to raise the funds necessary to design and construct the Memorial. It was established in 1998 through the combined efforts of philanthropist Lois Pope, Foundation chairman; Mr. Arthur Wilson, National Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans and Foundation President; and the late Jesse Brown, former Secretary of Veteran Affairs and the Foundation's first executive director.

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to raise the funds necessary to build the Memorial.

The Foundation subscribes to the Donor Bill of Rights, and is a registered charitable organization in all states and jurisdictions that require it.

The U.S. Congress approved this national memorial to be built in Washington D.C. with the passage of Public Law 106-348. Sponsors of the Act included Senators John McCain (Arizona) and Max Cleland (Georgia), and Representatives Sam Johnson (Texas) and Jack Murtha (Pennsylvania).

Lois Pope is a co-founder and chairman of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc.In 1998, she joined forces with Arthur Wilson, National Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans, and the late Jesse Brown, former Secretary of Veteran Affairs, to co-found the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. The sole mission of the foundation is to raise the monies to design, construct and maintain The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, DC.

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Arthur Wilson is a co-founder and president of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. In 1998, he joined philanthropist Lois Pope and the late Jesse Brown, former Secretary of Veteran Affairs, to co-found the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. The sole mission of the foundation is to raise the monies to design, construct and maintain The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, DC.

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During five years as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Cabinet of President Bill Clinton, the late Jesse Brown earned the love and respect of his fellow veterans across the United States. This well-deserved esteem made Mr. Brown uniquely qualified for his role as the first Executive Director of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc.

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A partner of the law firm Davidson, Dawson & Clark LLP in New York, Robert Miller serves as Secretary of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc.

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An active and inspiring advocate on behalf of disabled veterans, Mr. Murphy has taken a leadership role in creating The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. He has served on the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc.'s Board of Directors since its creation. The South Dakota native says he felt he was called to a life of doing for others when he found himself lying injured on the jungle floor in Vietnam, 1969. Wounded by two gunshots to his right side, just 30 days before he was scheduled to return to the United States, the young Army sergeant awaited evacuation for 14 hours. Nearly ten months of hospitalization couldn't cure the paralysis of his legs.

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Kenneth G. Musselmann serves as a Director of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. He served with the U.S. Army America Division in Vietnam. A land mine explosion and gunshot wounds resulted in amputation of both legs. He holds the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

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Members of the DVLMF Advisory Board are dedicated veterans of the Armed Services who have become recognized leaders in business and government service. Each member distinguished himself on the field of battle and, today, continues to serve our country by helping to raise the $65 million of private funds required to design, build and permanently maintain the Memorial to honor the sacrifices of all our disabled veterans. Board members serve as valuable advisors to DVLMF by providing advice and counsel and attracting other national leaders to serve on the board, and they serve as DVLMF ambassadors to the community at large by lending their time and resources to help further enlist the support of other major benefactors.

The late Leo Albert spent four years in the U.S. Marines during World War II and was in one of the first units to land in Nagasaki after the United States dropped the atomic bomb. Mr. Albert is the retired chairman of Prentice-Hall International Publishers and a former chair of the Association of American Book Publishers and the U.S. State Department Committee on International Books and Libraries.

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Michael Powell, a disabled Army veteran, is former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Following in his father's footsteps, retired four-star general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Mr. Powell joined the Army in 1985.

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Anthony J. Principi, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, was awarded the Bronze Star with a V device for valor and the Navy Combat Action Medal during his service in Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

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George Reenstra served as an Army Special Forces helicopter pilot in Vietnam and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Commendation Medal with a V device for valor, and 28 Air Medals.

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George Schaefer, Jr., is a decorated Vietnam veteran who earned a Bronze Star for his service. Currently he serves as President/CEO of Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bancorp, one of the largest commercial banks in the U.S.

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