Community Corner

Travel Version of Vietnam Vets Memorial Returns to the Hudson Valley

In case you missed the Moving Wall when it came to Putnam County in 2011, you have another opportunity to see it over July Fourth weekend.

A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. has been traveling the country for 30 years. Now it will come to Hastings-on-Hudson July 4-7.

According to the exhibit's website:

"The Moving Wall" is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for almost thirty years. When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the positive power of "The Wall." He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington.

John, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Moving Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October of 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each site."

Soliciting volunteers earlier this month to help the community support the exhibit, Hastings village staffer Lisa O'Reilly sent out an email that also described The Moving Wall's import:

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"To remember the 58,272 who died in service to their country.
To help bring healing to veterans and families and friends of those who died or are missing in Vietnam, especially those who may not have the opportunity to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.
To educate the community about the war in Vietnam and its impact on our nation and our veterans."  
The exhibit will be open dawn to dusk at Draper Park, 80 Washington Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson.




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