The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, located on the National Mall in Washington D.C. pays tribute to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were killed or missing in action in the Vietnam War. The Wall is actually comprised of two identical walls containing 74 individual granite panels that each stretch 246 feet and 9 inches, etched with more than 58,000 names. At the Wall’s vertex, they reach over 10 feet in height. These names are listed in chronological order based on the date of casualty; within each day, names are shown in alphabetical order. By far, the most defining attribute of the Memorial is the reflective surface, which allows visitors to see their own reflection in the engraved names. According to Statista Research, approximately 5.60 million people visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 2015.
If you or your family have not been part of the fortunate number who have seen the Wall in D.C., you’ll have a chance to experience it for yourselves, at least in part, at Perry High School this weekend. The exhibit, called the “Moving Wall”, is a half-sized replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It has been touring the country for thirty plus years to share the experience with those who have not had the opportunity to visit Washington. The exhibit will be open to the public from noon on Thursday, September 21st until 6 pm on Sunday, September 24th.
On Thursday morning, a funeral procession will depart from LaMalfa on Heisley Road in Mentor. By 9:30 a.m., the procession will arrive at Perry High School where the wall panels will be placed. Beginning at 5 pm on Thursday, a multitude of honorary presentations will be made, featuring Lake County Vietnam veterans, and at 7 pm, an opening ceremony will be held. Various events will take place throughout the weekend; visit www.nbzapparel.com/vietnammovingwall for a detailed schedule. The Moving Wall will be open 24 hours a day until 6 pm on Sunday.
The Moving Wall monument will be constructed outside Perry High School, at 1 Success Boulevard in Perry, from Thursday, September 21st at noon until Sunday, September 24th at 6 pm. Amvets Post #1971, Perry High School and Perry High School Alumni Association together with The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration sponsor this traveling experience. The goal of this inspiring installation is to honor those local men and women who have served.
Although the Moving Wall is free to the public, donations will be accepted. Any and all donations will be used solely for expenses to set up, display and maintain The Moving Wall, and can be accepted through Amvets Post #1971 (4128 Main Street, Perry Ohio 44081) or through the event page at www.gofundme.com/vietnam-moving-wall.
