thedrifter
10-01-08, 08:21 AM
Memorial Wall deemed huge success
By JUDITH O. ETZEL
One month after the Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall came to Franklin, the organizers for the exhibit are still basking in the glow of an overwhelming response.
"It was something else, just amazing the people that helped and the people who attended," said Jim Wray, coordinator for the Aug. 28-Sept. 1 wall exhibit in Franklin's Fountain Park. "We had in the neighborhood of 30,000 to 35,000 visitors in a constant flow of people into the park."
Wray, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Thailand, is a member of the Franklin VFW Post that sponsored the visit. The organizers held a wrap-up meeting this week at the post.
The total cost to bring the exhibit to Franklin reached $15,000 and included contracting for the wall and accompanying exhibits, memorial wreaths and more.
"We received $10,023 in donations from individuals and businesses and a lot of in-kind contributions," Wray said. "The post picked up the rest of the cost."
The City of Franklin was outstanding in its response to the memorial wall, said the coordinator who singled out city staffers Terry Ruditis in the street department, Kevin Lewis in the police department and Ronnie Beith, events coordinator, for their efforts on behalf of the exhibit. The Franklin High School band also added a special touch to the event, he said.
And while grateful for the municipal support, Wray wasn't surprised by it.
"That's Franklin - the city is just overwhelming in helping with stuff like this. They realized the scope of the project and they went out of their way to help us," he said.
The memorial wall organizers were pleased that veterans of all eras visited the site, he said.
"A lot of Vietnam veterans came up to us and thanked us and that was a great feeling," Wray said. "But veterans from all times came, including Iraq veterans, because the wall was just the centerpiece of the exhibit - it was for all veterans to show our appreciation."
Special emphasis was focused on families and friends of Venango County residents killed in the Vietnam War. The opening ceremony at the memorial wall included personal escorts to the memorial wall and the placement of wreaths. The recognition, said Wray, resulted in "a lot of hugs."
Wray said he and others were prompted to carry the local tribute beyond the exhibit when a Cranberry resident gave some personal belongings to them.
"This fellow and a friend graduated from Cranberry High School together, joined the Marines together and went to Vietnam together. His friend was killed and he ended up with some of his things, including a basic training book and a school yearbook, both having their pictures in it. He gave those to us and we did some research and found a step-sister. We gave the things back to the family," Wray said.
The Franklin VFW, commanded by Ray Burk who was also instrumental in carrying out the downtown event, marshaled a large group of volunteers to set up the wall and exhibits when they arrived at the park. Many more joined in when they noticed the project.
"So many of our volunteers were people off the streets who saw what we were doing and just pitched in and helped. There was an army there that day and it was unbelievable," Wray said.
The national Moving Memorial Wall organizers were nonplussed at how much local support and enthusiasm materialized, Wray said.
"Don Allen, the main organizer, has done this across the country and he said that for a small town, he had never seen that kind of reception, that kind of help," he said. "Everyone just showed up and did what they were supposed to. It was so appreciated."
The Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall will be in Titusville next summer.
Photo by Jerry Sowden - Between 30,000 to 35,000 visitors saw the exhibit, an organizer says.
Ellie
By JUDITH O. ETZEL
One month after the Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall came to Franklin, the organizers for the exhibit are still basking in the glow of an overwhelming response.
"It was something else, just amazing the people that helped and the people who attended," said Jim Wray, coordinator for the Aug. 28-Sept. 1 wall exhibit in Franklin's Fountain Park. "We had in the neighborhood of 30,000 to 35,000 visitors in a constant flow of people into the park."
Wray, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Thailand, is a member of the Franklin VFW Post that sponsored the visit. The organizers held a wrap-up meeting this week at the post.
The total cost to bring the exhibit to Franklin reached $15,000 and included contracting for the wall and accompanying exhibits, memorial wreaths and more.
"We received $10,023 in donations from individuals and businesses and a lot of in-kind contributions," Wray said. "The post picked up the rest of the cost."
The City of Franklin was outstanding in its response to the memorial wall, said the coordinator who singled out city staffers Terry Ruditis in the street department, Kevin Lewis in the police department and Ronnie Beith, events coordinator, for their efforts on behalf of the exhibit. The Franklin High School band also added a special touch to the event, he said.
And while grateful for the municipal support, Wray wasn't surprised by it.
"That's Franklin - the city is just overwhelming in helping with stuff like this. They realized the scope of the project and they went out of their way to help us," he said.
The memorial wall organizers were pleased that veterans of all eras visited the site, he said.
"A lot of Vietnam veterans came up to us and thanked us and that was a great feeling," Wray said. "But veterans from all times came, including Iraq veterans, because the wall was just the centerpiece of the exhibit - it was for all veterans to show our appreciation."
Special emphasis was focused on families and friends of Venango County residents killed in the Vietnam War. The opening ceremony at the memorial wall included personal escorts to the memorial wall and the placement of wreaths. The recognition, said Wray, resulted in "a lot of hugs."
Wray said he and others were prompted to carry the local tribute beyond the exhibit when a Cranberry resident gave some personal belongings to them.
"This fellow and a friend graduated from Cranberry High School together, joined the Marines together and went to Vietnam together. His friend was killed and he ended up with some of his things, including a basic training book and a school yearbook, both having their pictures in it. He gave those to us and we did some research and found a step-sister. We gave the things back to the family," Wray said.
The Franklin VFW, commanded by Ray Burk who was also instrumental in carrying out the downtown event, marshaled a large group of volunteers to set up the wall and exhibits when they arrived at the park. Many more joined in when they noticed the project.
"So many of our volunteers were people off the streets who saw what we were doing and just pitched in and helped. There was an army there that day and it was unbelievable," Wray said.
The national Moving Memorial Wall organizers were nonplussed at how much local support and enthusiasm materialized, Wray said.
"Don Allen, the main organizer, has done this across the country and he said that for a small town, he had never seen that kind of reception, that kind of help," he said. "Everyone just showed up and did what they were supposed to. It was so appreciated."
The Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall will be in Titusville next summer.
Photo by Jerry Sowden - Between 30,000 to 35,000 visitors saw the exhibit, an organizer says.
Ellie