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A U.S. Marine sings the National Anthem at the In Memory Day observance in the East Knoll by the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

A U.S. Marine sings the National Anthem at the In Memory Day observance in the East Knoll by the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A U.S. Marine sings the National Anthem at the In Memory Day observance in the East Knoll by the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

A U.S. Marine sings the National Anthem at the In Memory Day observance in the East Knoll by the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

The Armed Forces Color Guard of Washington, D.C., retreat after their presentation during the beginning of the In Memory Day observance at the Vietnam Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

The Armed Forces Color Guard of Washington, D.C., retreat after their presentation during the beginning of the In Memory Day observance at the Vietnam Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

The crowd at the In Memory Day observance near the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

The crowd at the In Memory Day observance near the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Families look on while Jan Scruggs, president and founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, reads opening remarks.

Families look on while Jan Scruggs, president and founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, reads opening remarks. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A woman looks over the list of names of honorees being inducted into the In Memory Honor Roll on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

A woman looks over the list of names of honorees being inducted into the In Memory Honor Roll on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Several Vietnam veterans observe the In Memory Day ceremony at the back of the crowd on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

Several Vietnam veterans observe the In Memory Day ceremony at the back of the crowd on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

Annette Conway, the keynote speaker at the In Memory Day observance, talks about her brother Danial Thomas Drury, who is a 2014 honoree.

Annette Conway, the keynote speaker at the In Memory Day observance, talks about her brother Danial Thomas Drury, who is a 2014 honoree. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A dog takes some refuge from the sun under his companion's wheelchair. The companion - and dog - would go on stage later and read the name of a 2014 inductee.

A dog takes some refuge from the sun under his companion's wheelchair. The companion - and dog - would go on stage later and read the name of a 2014 inductee. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A Marine and his son wait their turn to recite the name of a loved one who was a Vietnam veteran at the In Memory Day observance on Saturday, June 14, 2014.

A Marine and his son wait their turn to recite the name of a loved one who was a Vietnam veteran at the In Memory Day observance on Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A woman holds onto her hat on a windy Saturday during the In Memory Day observance on June 14, 2014. She was waiting her turn to read the name of a Vietnam veteran whose picture she was holding.

A woman holds onto her hat on a windy Saturday during the In Memory Day observance on June 14, 2014. She was waiting her turn to read the name of a Vietnam veteran whose picture she was holding. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A woman reads the name of a Vietnam veteran at the In Memory Day observance on Saturday, June 14, 2014. The Vietnam Wall is seen behind her.

A woman reads the name of a Vietnam veteran at the In Memory Day observance on Saturday, June 14, 2014. The Vietnam Wall is seen behind her. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

A woman recites the name of a Vietnam veteran during the In Memory Day observance.

A woman recites the name of a Vietnam veteran during the In Memory Day observance. (Meredith Tibbetts/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Their deaths do not fit into the Department of Defense criteria for inclusion on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., but they are still honored.

Every year, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, established in 1979, honors those who were not killed in action but died through other war scars: PTSD and Agent Orange being the main two culprits.

Saturday's In Memory Day ceremony honored 131 individuals whose names were read aloud.

The heath issues related to Agent Orange was a rallying call during the reading of the names. Some took a moment to say they wanted the U.S. government to recognize their loved ones as having died as a result of their service in Vietnam and to have their names engraved on the wall.

After the ceremony, certificates bearing the honorees' names were placed at The Vietnam Wall. National Park Service personnel collect certificates later and store them in a permanent archive.

Email: tibbetts.meredith@stripes.com

Twitter: @mjtibbs

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