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Fourteen members of Local 26, Washington, DC, and Local 24, Baltimore, Maryland, volunteered their time to restore all the lighting on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC, that carries a huge emotional impact for many Americans, including some of the IBEW volunteers.

The job included replacing 72 quartz lamps with more energy efficient 10-watt lamps and inspecting and replacing all of the fixtures at the site. The lamps were donated by PBM Lembach Group, Marlin Electric in Fairfax, Virginia.

At the request of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Will Schwartz of Local 24 met with National Park Service architects and recruited his co-workers from the two locals. Schwartz is a former officer of the Maryland chapter of the VVA. The work was completed in two early morning hours. The volunteers-veterans and non-veterans alike-plan to check The Wall twice a year for necessary maintenance.

International Representative Bud Satterfield of the IBEW Construction Department joined in the work. In addition to Schwartz, volunteers from Local 24 included Will Richardson, Don Peters, Jim McDermet, Ivan Anderson, Jack Sowers and Robert Kulp. From Local 26 were Jerry Lozupone, Norm Strickland, Rich Wylie, Chuck Graham, Butch Ramos, Larry Greenhill Sr. and Joe Dabbs.