MsE
08-23-2007, 09:00 AM
my man and I felt very honored to assist in the mile long two (and three) escort that took this to northern Kentucky, one of my friends is in VNVMC, the ones guarding it till Sunday, Asked if we would ride with them...
Wall brings distant memories
The Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall, a half-scale replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., arrived here Wednesday. The wall will be on display from the opening ceremony at 6 tonight until 6 p.m. Sunday at Kenton County's Pioneer Park.
Butch Callery still thinks about two friends who were killed during the Vietnam War.
When he speaks at the opening ceremonies for the Moving Wall tonight, he will find those names on the memorial to honor those memories, he said.
"It's good for people to come back and remember their comrades," Callery said. "It's part of the healing process."
Many others are expected to follow suit, as the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall, a half-scale replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., arrived at Pioneer Park Wednesday. The wall will be on display from the opening ceremony at 6 tonight until 6 p.m. Sunday. Kenton County's Pioneer Park is on Ky. 17 just south of Interstate 275 in Covington.
Guards will stand by the memorial day and night, so family members and others can come to pay their respects.
The arrival of the wall coincides with the reunion of sailors from the USS Forrestal, a "supercarrier" of the time. The sailors helped bring the wall to the area.
About 400 to 500 who served on the USS Forrestal are holding their annual reunion at the Drawbridge Inn through Sunday.
Included among the more than 58,000 names on the wall are 134 sailors from the ship who died when a fire broke out July 29, 1967.
"It was the most scared I've ever been," said Walton resident Tim Frodge of the USS Forrestal Association. "I still remember the fire and the smoke."
Frodge and the association thought it would be a good idea to bring the wall back to Northern Kentucky.
The wall last came to the area about three years ago when it was displayed in Florence, said Scott Gunning, director of Kenton County parks.
Motorcycles and law enforcement escorted the wall to the park Wednesday, where it will be assembled.
Several officials will speak at tonight's opening ceremonies. The Florence Community Band is tentatively scheduled to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Color Guard from Cincinnati posts the American flag.
The Covington Police Department will post the Kentucky flag and members of the USS Forrestal Association will post the MIA/POW flag.
There also will be an invocation by the Rev. Ronald Kettler, the singing of inspirational hymns by Gary Greisser, recognition of Gold and Silver Star mothers and the 21 organizations that helped bring the wall here, a 21-gun salute, and the playing of taps by Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn.
Kenton County Deputy Judge-executive Scott Kimmich, Covington Mayor Butch Callery and U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis also are scheduled to make remarks and issue proclamations.
The Forrestal association has raised about $2,100 of the $6,000 needed to help with amenities such as temporary benches, flower and shrubbery displays and the construction of a base for the wall.
"But we still need more," Frodge said.
And it's all for a good cause, officials say.
"I think it's great - especially for those who can't go to Washington, D.C., to see the Wall there," Callery said. "Everyone needs to see this."
Cincinnati.Com NKY.com Local News Wall brings distant memories
Wall brings distant memories
The Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall, a half-scale replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., arrived here Wednesday. The wall will be on display from the opening ceremony at 6 tonight until 6 p.m. Sunday at Kenton County's Pioneer Park.
Butch Callery still thinks about two friends who were killed during the Vietnam War.
When he speaks at the opening ceremonies for the Moving Wall tonight, he will find those names on the memorial to honor those memories, he said.
"It's good for people to come back and remember their comrades," Callery said. "It's part of the healing process."
Many others are expected to follow suit, as the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall, a half-scale replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., arrived at Pioneer Park Wednesday. The wall will be on display from the opening ceremony at 6 tonight until 6 p.m. Sunday. Kenton County's Pioneer Park is on Ky. 17 just south of Interstate 275 in Covington.
Guards will stand by the memorial day and night, so family members and others can come to pay their respects.
The arrival of the wall coincides with the reunion of sailors from the USS Forrestal, a "supercarrier" of the time. The sailors helped bring the wall to the area.
About 400 to 500 who served on the USS Forrestal are holding their annual reunion at the Drawbridge Inn through Sunday.
Included among the more than 58,000 names on the wall are 134 sailors from the ship who died when a fire broke out July 29, 1967.
"It was the most scared I've ever been," said Walton resident Tim Frodge of the USS Forrestal Association. "I still remember the fire and the smoke."
Frodge and the association thought it would be a good idea to bring the wall back to Northern Kentucky.
The wall last came to the area about three years ago when it was displayed in Florence, said Scott Gunning, director of Kenton County parks.
Motorcycles and law enforcement escorted the wall to the park Wednesday, where it will be assembled.
Several officials will speak at tonight's opening ceremonies. The Florence Community Band is tentatively scheduled to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Color Guard from Cincinnati posts the American flag.
The Covington Police Department will post the Kentucky flag and members of the USS Forrestal Association will post the MIA/POW flag.
There also will be an invocation by the Rev. Ronald Kettler, the singing of inspirational hymns by Gary Greisser, recognition of Gold and Silver Star mothers and the 21 organizations that helped bring the wall here, a 21-gun salute, and the playing of taps by Kenton County Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn.
Kenton County Deputy Judge-executive Scott Kimmich, Covington Mayor Butch Callery and U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis also are scheduled to make remarks and issue proclamations.
The Forrestal association has raised about $2,100 of the $6,000 needed to help with amenities such as temporary benches, flower and shrubbery displays and the construction of a base for the wall.
"But we still need more," Frodge said.
And it's all for a good cause, officials say.
"I think it's great - especially for those who can't go to Washington, D.C., to see the Wall there," Callery said. "Everyone needs to see this."
Cincinnati.Com NKY.com Local News Wall brings distant memories