"The Moving Wall,” a half-size replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which has been touring the country for over 30 years, is coming to Yazoo City on October 29, 2015.
It will be open to the public for 24 hours a day until November 2 with no admission charge on the Baptist Hospital Site (old Yazoo Motors).
After John Devitt, a Vietnam War Veteran, attended the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, he wanted to share the positive aspects and the emotional outpouring of the experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington to see the Memorial. He and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built “The Moving Wall,” which went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in 1984.
Two structures of “The Moving Wall” travel the United States from April through November, spending about a week at each site.
For years, the Vietnam War has been about politics. Over 58,000 names of Vietnam War casualties on the Wall, which represents the sacrifice of those who have served in our military, makes it about remembrance and respect of our families and friends who sacrificed their lives for their country.
On this solemn occasion, we want to honor and remember the nine Yazoo County natives who died during the Vietnam War—James D. Blanden, Peter Brown Cook Jr. Ernest Pepper Gulledge Jr., Harvey Harris, Jr., Willie Rogers Hornburger, Howard Hamilton Nelson, Earl M. Stanford, Garrett Garland Sutton Jr. and Sylvester Washington.
Organizers are looking for information and pictures of these soldiers in order to create a memorial for them while The Wall is here.
Contact Whitney Hurt at the Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce at 662-746-1273 with information.
Organizers also plan to recognize all Vietnam War veterans, so please call Hurt to make sure that they are on the Vietnam War veteran list.
A vast number of volunteers will be necessary to support this event.
Volunteers are needed for hospitality, media, fundraising, emergency services, security, finance, assemble and disassemble (must be a veteran), ceremonies, military and veteran liaison, history and research, site preparation and logistics.
