The Virginia War Memorial broke ground today for its new $8.1-million Paul and Phyllis Galanti Education Center.
The 18,000-square-foot expansion will triple the size of the memorial located above the James River on Richmond's South Belvidere Street.
Designed by the Richmond architectural firm of Glavé & Holmes Associates, the center recognizes the Galantis, who live in Richmond, for their service during the Vietnam War.
Galanti flew nearly 100 missions as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War. In June 1966, his jet was shot down over North Vietnam. He was a prisoner of war in the notorious Hanoi Hilton for 6 ½ years.
Today, Galanti serves as chairman of the state's Board of Veterans Services and on the board of the Families of the Wounded Fund.
After her husband's shootdown, Phyllis Galanti became chairwoman of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. She also was instrumental in orchestrating the Write Hanoi campaign, which demonstrated Americans' outrage over North Vietnam's treatment of POWs.
Work should begin on the center in February or March and be completed by the middle of 2010.
Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or pbacque@timesdispatch.com.
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