Veterans Wall Draws Crowd

Port Huron Times Herald - Port Huron, MI, USA

Veterans wall draws crowd
BY SHEILA D. YANCY • Times Herald • July 24, 2008

ALGONAC — Hundreds of people stood in the heat for a memorial ceremony Thursday afternoon for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall at Riverfront Park.

The Moving Wall has been touring the country for more than 20 years and has visited various cities and towns to provide Americans an opportunity to pay homage to the more than 58,000 Vietnam Veterans who lost their lives in the conflict.

“The troops gave their last full measure so we could enjoy the freedom we have today,” said Major James Wisdom.

The public will be able to view the wall 24 hours a day through July 28.

Sponsored by the Fred Quandt VFW post, the Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC.

Some of the activities included speeches by state and local dignitaries, the laying of the “Wreath of Freedom” escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard and a flyover provided by the Air National Guard out of Selfridge National Guard Base.

“When you stand in front of the wall,” said Jim Fernandez, Michigan VFW District 10 POW/MIA chairman, “you can look into another country across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without guns pointing back at each other.”