CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A smaller version of the Vietnam Memorial is making its way to Clay County.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is a 3/5 replica of the memorial in Washington D.C. It stands six feet tall in the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end.
The wall travels around the country as a reminder of the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War.
So many people can’t make it to Washington D.C. to see the real thing. The other thing is, we know that healing happens at the wall. Our Vietnam veterans were not treated kindly whenever they returned home and this is a chance to welcome them home, to show our appreciation for the job that they did for their country.
Leesa Nesty – Vice Regent – Eliz Rizley Stacey Chapter, D.O.A.R
The wall will be at North Clay Middle School from October 17th to the 20th.
We have an opening ceremony Friday at 5 o’clock. On Saturday and Sunday, it’s available for public viewing. Actually, from the time it gets here, it’s open 24 hours a day. People can come from Thursday, all the way to Sunday evening, which is the closing ceremony, at 7 o’clock that evening.
Maj. General Kip Clark – Committee – Vietnam Traveling Wall
As a veteran himself, Clark says this wall is a way to show Vietnam veterans a great deal of respect and Clay County specifically has ties to the war that will be involved in the ceremonies.
There were ten men from Clay County that were killed in the Vietnam war. We are going to have some of their family members, gold-star family members at this event. That means a lot to me as a veteran, for those people to be there, and for us to show our respect for them.
Maj. General Kip Clark – Committee – Vietnam Traveling Wall
The wall will be in Brazil, around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. It will then be open 24 hours a day, ending on Sunday at 7 p.m.
