Ridge Global LLC

November 8, 2007 - The Honorable Tom Ridge was among veterans and family members who participated in this year's Reading of the Names, an annual event during which the more than 58,000 names inscribed on The Wall in Washington, DC, are read in order of casualty date.

At approximately 10 p.m., former Staff Sergeant Ridge read ten names as part of the poignant ceremony, which ran from November 7-10, over the Veterans Day Memorial Weekend. Other volunteer name readers included members of Congress, the Washington Capitals hockey team, Sons and Daughters Torch, American Gold Star Mothers and Gold Star Wives of America.

"I don't dwell on my time in Vietnam, but like most of us who served, I do draw from it," Ridge said after the event. "All who served and who serve today have our prayers and pride and heartfelt gratitude for their service to their country."

Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, presided as master of ceremonies at the opening ceremony, held on November 7.