Replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial coming to Halfmoon

HALFMOON >> The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be at Halfmoon Town Park from June 2-6.

The visit is being held in observance of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

The Moving Wall has toured the country for 30 years, giving millions of people an opportunity to personally view and experience this tribute to America’s more than 58,000 fallen Vietnam War veterans.

Halfmoon Town Park is at 162 Route 236.

During the wall’s visit, more than 300 local volunteers will take turns reading aloud the names of the Vietnam War’s fallen.

Many volunteers gathered Thursday at the park to obtain details and instructions.

Each morning a military veteran bugler will begin the day’s commemoration, and a bagpiper will close the viewing each night.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 2. The closing ceremony is 11 a.m. on Monday, June 5.

Both ceremonies are open to the public.

The wall will also be available for viewing at the following times.

• Thursday, June 2 (1-10 p.m.)

• Friday, June 3 (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)

• Saturday, June 4 (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)

• Sunday, June 5 (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)

• Monday, June 6 (7 a.m.-noon.)

The wall’s visit is sponsored by state Sen. Kathleen Marchione, R-Halfmoon, in partnership with Halfmoon Town Board and the state senate.

The Moving Wall’s history is found at the website: www.themovingwall.org.

It originated when Vietnam veteran John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication of the memorial in Washington D.C. He felt the positive power of “The Wall” and vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to visit Washington.

Devitt, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Moving Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each stop.

About 2.7 million American men and women served in Vietnam. In addition to those killed, 153,000 were wounded. There were 766 prisoners of war of which 114 died in captivity.

Also, more than 700 American servicemen and civilians were captured and held in prisoner of war camps in Hanoi, the surrounding region and in South Vietnam.

More than 1,600 servicemen, civilians and women are still considered missing in action.

Gary Flaherty, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame, is director of the Columbia County Veterans Service Agency.

“I know firsthand the critical importance of recognizing the incredible sacrifice our Vietnam War veterans made,” he said in a statement. “It is my hope that families from across the region will visit The Moving Wall and help commemorate the lives and service of the courageous members of our military who made the ultimate sacrifice.”