Traveling Wall Escort
The “Honor The Service” Vietnam War Event on August 27, 2022 will include a Traveling Memorial Wall with a Traveling Escort on Thursday, August 25th. Bikers are welcome to join the escort.
“The Traveling Wall” serves to educate, inspire, and provide a place for healing for all who visit. The Wall is an 80% scale model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which honors U.S. service members and U.S. armed forces who died in the service of their country. More than 58,000 names are etched into the memorial wall comprised of 140 panels and extends in length 360 ft. It has been part of more than 300 events across the United States.
In addition to the Wall, 36 A Frames called the “Cost of Freedom Tribute” will also be on display. This covers wars since 1945 and also pays tribute to the attack on America on 9/11.
Made of black granite from India, the monument is 493 feet long and 10 feet high at its highest point. The stone is very highly polished to create a detailed reflection of the visitor looking at the 58,318 names engraved on the wall. This is meant to symbolize bringing the past and present together. The names were carved into the granite by a computerized typesetting process called photo stencil gritblasting. Names are arranged in chronological order according to date of casualty or date reported missing, then in alphabetical order for that day.
The "Wall" was completed in 1982. In 1984, the Three Servicemen Statue
was added, and in 1993, the Vietnam Women's Memorial was dedicated to commemorate the 265,000 women that served.”
Interesting Facts about the Vietnam Wall
· 3 sets of fathers and sons are listed on the Wall, and 31 sets of brothers.
· 8 female fatalities are listed.
· Almost 40,000 of the names are of people age 22 and younger. The largest age group is 33,103 names of 18-year-olds. Sadly, the youngest person honored is PFC Dan Bullock who was just 15 years old when he was killed in action.
· 997 of the names belong to soldiers who were killed on their first day in Vietnam while 1,448 were killed on their last day before going home.
· Symbols next to each name denote the status of the service member. A diamond shape indicates the person is confirmed dead; a cross signifies the person is missing in action (MIA). If the missing service person returns alive, a circle will be placed around the cross. Sadly, there currently are 1200 names with crosses next to them and there are no circles.
· There is an unconfirmed story that a man threw his deceased brother's Purple Heart into the concrete as it was poured around the Wall's base.
· Swedish and Canadian stone were refused for the building project as both countries welcomed draft dodgers during the war. (Article by Thelma Raker Coffone)
