Vietnam Wall Coming To County

Cherokee Scout - Murphy, NC, USA

Memorial Moving Wall will be at Konehete Park on Oct. 7-12

By DWIGHT OTWELL
dotwell@cherokeescout.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 8:05 PM CST

Murphy – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall is coming to Murphy in October.

The half-size replica of the Washington wall will be displayed in Konehete Park on Oct. 7-12, Tom Valenty told Cherokee County commissioners on Jan. 20.

Valenty, representing Cherokee Detachment 1011 of the Marine Corps League, said it is the goal of the organization to bring the moving wall to Murphy in 2009. There are two Vietnam Memorial replica walls touring the country. The Vietnam memorial was dedicated in Washington in 1982, but the moving wall has been touring the country for 20 years. Oct. 7-12 will be a great time for the wall to come to Cherokee County, as schools will be in session and visitors “from all over” will be in the county because of colorful, fall leaves. Many other activities also are scheduled for that time, Valenty said.

Cherokee County Schools has agreed to provide student bands for the event. It appears that grades 5-12 will participate, Valenty said.

“Everyone may not be able to go to Washington, D.C., and visit the wall,” he said.

Valenty asked commissioners for their support, whether it is money or labor.

Help will be needed to erect a foundation for the wall. A $2,000 deposit will be required for putting up the base of the wall, and another $2,500 will be needed for chaperones for the wall once it is here, Valenty said. The estimated total amount needed is $10,000, including 24-hour security and lighting.

Names of those killed in the Vietnam War, more than 50,000, are displayed on both sides of the wall, Valenty said.

The wall contains about 1,300 names of those still missing in action. Among the names are seven nurses, Valenty said.

Commission Chairman David Sumpter said the commission will help coordinate the financial aspects of the project.

The commissioners will consider providing financial help when it meets in a few months to consider the county’s budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.

“We won’t say ‘no.’ We will say ‘maybe,’ ” Sumpter said.

“I look forward to our community participating,” Commissioner Jonathan Dickey said. “We will discuss [financial] help when we talk about the budget in April. I am sure that people in the community also will come forward.”

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) will come to Murphy for the opening ceremony for the wall, Valenty said.