Marion IL – People who haven’t seen the Moving Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial will get the chance for four days in May when it is brought to the Marion Veterans Administration Center in southern Illinois.
It is being brought here because of Vietnam vet Edwin Vega, who had wished to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. to honor his friends who died in the war and a man whose life Vega saved. However, Vega fell, broke his hip and soon died before he got to go.
So VA staffers were inspired to bring the Moving Wall to his home region. It is a three-quarter scale replica of the Memorial and has appeared in some 600 communities since 1996.
The opening ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, at the Marion Veterans Administration Center located at 2401 W, Main St., with visitation until 10 p.m.
Other public hours are:
- Friday, May 3 – School groups will visit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Wall will open to viewing by the general public a 4 p.m. A wreath ceremony will be held at 5 p.m., and the Wall will remain open for viewing until 10 p.m.
- Saturday, May 4 – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. A rendezvous for Vietnam veterans will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a candlelight vigil will be held at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, May 5 – 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information, call 618-997-5311 ext. 54868, or email samuel.olson@va.gov.
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