THE VIETNAM WALL VISITS TEXAS
A three-quarter-size replica of the Vietnam Wall will be in Sulphur Springs November 4 through 7.
“We’re the only site in Texas,” says Mandy Kennedy, who works with veterans’ organizations in Sulphur Springs. “There’s only 28 sites this year. In fact, we’re the only site in the entire southern states area. The closest ones are Colorado, Ari- zona and New Mexico.”
Mandy says she is expecting a large crowd from a wide area.
“They old us to expect 25,000 visitors over the 4 days. This has been designattionwide ed nationwide as the year to welcome home Vietnam veterans. Our goal is to have the streets lined with people and yellow ribbons and banners. We’re doing student tours and planning on a hundred kids every 30 minutes. That means about 1,200 kids in two days.”
There is no admission charge. The wall will be on display at the high school track 24 hours a day.
“There’s a big command center that will be in the concession stand area and there will be plenty of parking. It’s just a perfect place to set it up. It takes a lot of space because it’s 375 feet long and nearly 8 feet tall. Our athletes are helping to carry the granite wall sections. We’re responsible for putting it up.”
Visitors will be able to do rubbings of names on the wall.
“The staff will provide the paper. We provide the pencils. Our volunteers will help people get their etchings. There will be a kiosk there so family members can look up their veteran’s name and they can print out a photo of the loved one and get details about where they died and other information.”
A detailed education station accompanies the wall that has the history of the war and personal stories.
“There are printed materials, videos, maps, even shadow boxes that contain memorabilia such as photos, testimonials and things like that. There’s just so much to see.”
Students have been involved throughout the process. A resident, Carol Dunn Vernon donated $10,000 to get the wall to Sulphur Springs.
“We truly have a community that rallies and supports our veterans.”
Mandy has a personal interest in the wall.
“I have a cousin on that wall. A lot of my family was in the Vietnam War, so I’ve kept up with veterans’ issues nearly my whole life. It’s a privilege to be able to help handle the hundreds of volunteers and other factors that go into getting the wall here.”