thedrifter
04-04-09, 07:17 AM
Vietnam Tribute Wall open in Buckeye at Verrado High
by Eric Graf - Apr. 4, 2009 08:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall opened to the public on Thursday at Buckeye's Verrado High.
The wall, an 80 percent-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be open for tours 24 hours daily until it leaves Buckeye on Monday. Admission is free.
Thursday's opening ceremonies included numerous speakers who had served the United
States or were related to those who had.
"Think about how many stories are there," said Bob Lane, who emceed the ceremony. "Nobody wants war, but it happens. We have to honor those people who served."
The wall is 370 feet long in two segments of 185 feet each and 8 feet high at its highest point. There are other exhibits on display as well, including memorials dedicated to all of the wars the U.S. has been involved in, from the birth of the country to present-day efforts in the Middle East.
Lane, who served in the Vietnam War with the Marines in 1966-67, first explored the idea of bringing the wall to Buckeye a year ago.
"It feels good that it's here, but it's emotional. It's hard at times to talk about it, like when kids ask about Vietnam," he said. "Maybe as time goes on, it will get easier, but all I can say now is that it was hell. I want people to remember."
Also on display are the ashes of Cpl. Isaiah Mays, a Buffalo Soldier from the Indian Wars and Medal of Honor recipient who never received a proper burial. He died in Phoenix in 1925 and was buried in an unmarked grave. Last month, the remains were exhumed and cremated. Mays' ashes will be moved to Arlington National Cemetery.
Rick Avolio, the chief of staff for the Hispanic Medal of Honor Society, is documenting the journey of Mays' ashes.
"It's literally an emotional roller coaster across the country," he said. "We're talking about true heroes here. These pictures, these ashes, that wall, these dogtags - those are heroes."
The town will host a special ceremony commemorating the wall at 10 a.m. today. It will feature speeches by former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley and Steve Irvin, a news anchor at ABC15 News who covered a terrorist attack at the Pentagon and American troops in Bosnia. Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck also will speak.
Verrado High School is at 20050 W. Indian School Road. For more information about the wall's stay in Buckeye, visit www.buckeyeaz.gov.
Ellie
by Eric Graf - Apr. 4, 2009 08:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall opened to the public on Thursday at Buckeye's Verrado High.
The wall, an 80 percent-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be open for tours 24 hours daily until it leaves Buckeye on Monday. Admission is free.
Thursday's opening ceremonies included numerous speakers who had served the United
States or were related to those who had.
"Think about how many stories are there," said Bob Lane, who emceed the ceremony. "Nobody wants war, but it happens. We have to honor those people who served."
The wall is 370 feet long in two segments of 185 feet each and 8 feet high at its highest point. There are other exhibits on display as well, including memorials dedicated to all of the wars the U.S. has been involved in, from the birth of the country to present-day efforts in the Middle East.
Lane, who served in the Vietnam War with the Marines in 1966-67, first explored the idea of bringing the wall to Buckeye a year ago.
"It feels good that it's here, but it's emotional. It's hard at times to talk about it, like when kids ask about Vietnam," he said. "Maybe as time goes on, it will get easier, but all I can say now is that it was hell. I want people to remember."
Also on display are the ashes of Cpl. Isaiah Mays, a Buffalo Soldier from the Indian Wars and Medal of Honor recipient who never received a proper burial. He died in Phoenix in 1925 and was buried in an unmarked grave. Last month, the remains were exhumed and cremated. Mays' ashes will be moved to Arlington National Cemetery.
Rick Avolio, the chief of staff for the Hispanic Medal of Honor Society, is documenting the journey of Mays' ashes.
"It's literally an emotional roller coaster across the country," he said. "We're talking about true heroes here. These pictures, these ashes, that wall, these dogtags - those are heroes."
The town will host a special ceremony commemorating the wall at 10 a.m. today. It will feature speeches by former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley and Steve Irvin, a news anchor at ABC15 News who covered a terrorist attack at the Pentagon and American troops in Bosnia. Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck also will speak.
Verrado High School is at 20050 W. Indian School Road. For more information about the wall's stay in Buckeye, visit www.buckeyeaz.gov.
Ellie