Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall offers chance for healing
For some local Vietnam veterans, a trip to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been too painful to see. For others, it’s too far of a distance to travel.
Hampton officials hope to help both groups with the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, a replica 80 percent of the size of the original designed by Maya Lin. Through noon Tuesday, it is open all day and night and is free to the public at the township’s community park, 3101 McCully Road.
Every name on the original wall — more than 58,000 — is on the replica.
“It brings a sense of reality, what really happened,” said Jan Lewis, who served with the Air Force in Operation Desert Storm.
An opening ceremony, Thursday evening, focused on the importance of honoring the veterans who served in Vietnam, regardless of the controversy that arose at home over the U.S. government’s participation in the conflict.
“We now understand that supporting the troops is essential,” said retired Army Col. Robert Munhall, who served as the ceremony’s guest speaker. “Being mad at the government is perfectly acceptable. We’re doing, as uniformed service members, what Uncle Sam is asking us to do.”
After the opening ceremony, many families and veterans approached the wall to see the names of loved ones and those they served with.
“It’s been a long time,” said Vietnam veteran Bob Kelly, 68, of West Mifflin. “It’s tough to see your friends’ names again.”
Other veterans, however, said they would have to take their time to see the wall.
“I won’t go up and look at one name until I look at every name that I knew,” said retired Army Master Sgt. Glenn Cole.
Community members of all ages came to see and appreciate the temporary memorial, which Hampton Municipal Manager Chris Lochner said was part of the goal.
“[Vietnam veterans] deserved a lot better, and this creates a forum to correct that. ... It gives them the honor and respect, and also the remembrance that they deserve.”
Victor Son, Hampton council president, had the idea to bring the wall to Hampton after he heard it was on display in Twinsburg, Ohio, last year. The township applied to receive the wall, and Mr. Son said they were surprised they could feature it for the Fourth of July weekend.
The replica has been erected along the side of a large hill, giving it a similar feel to the memorial in Washington, which starts on ground level and slowly slopes down to a deep point in the middle. It is made of anodized aluminum, allowing it
the same glossy finish as the granite wall in the National Mall. It was built by American Veterans Traveling Tribute, based in Texas, and has been around since 1998, traveling to all 50 states.
“It gives the community an opportunity” to see the wall if they can’t be in Washington for July 4, said Mr. Kelly. “When they see the number of people that are on the wall, especially the younger people, it’ll help them understand a little bit of the pain that people go through that died there. Some of us are still dying.”
He said he’s suffered numerous health conditions as a result of his service in Vietnam.
“I look back at it and it’s nothing compared to what they gave.”
Volunteers, including veterans and other Hampton community members, will help visitors find names on the wall 24 hours a day until the closing ceremony at noon on Tuesday.
Alex Weidenhof: 412-2631969 or aweidenhof@post-gazette.com.