Columbia Basin Herald Online Newspaper

Local News - Moses Lake, WA - Grant County

Vietnam wall coming to Moses Lake

Posted: Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 - 12:09:45 pm PST
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By Candice Boutilier
Herald staff writer 
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Mark Seeley of Boise, Idaho, kisses where his father John Seeley's name is inscribed in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Plans are underway to bring a traveling version of the memorial to the Grant County Fairgrounds in June.

Informational meeting Thursday

MOSES LAKE - A traveling memorial wall honoring everyone who died serving in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War is coming to Moses Lake in June.

An informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Moses Lake Fire Department located at 701 E. Third Ave.

The public is to be provided information about the wall, accompanying monuments and an all veterans and

patriots rally, said Richard Carpenter of Chapter 13 of the Northwest Combat Veteran's Motorcycle Association. He expects the meeting to be approximately one hour long.

He said the wall is scheduled to be at the Grant County Fairgrounds June 11 through June 15 for anyone interested in seeing a display of all the names and memorabilia.

Carpenter said the event is not exclusive to motorcycle enthusiasts or the combat veterans, it's for everyone. Several other events are being planned for the five-day event including a possible poker tournament.

He has his own military ties. Carpenter served in the U.S. military in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.

He expects thousands of people to attend the event for Moses Lake and is need of donations of funds and hotel rooms. People interested in donating resources are encouraged to attend the Thursday meeting, Carpenter said.

He said the wall is approximately 370 feet long and 8 feet tall featuring more than 58,000 names of fallen war veterans. Several semi trucks are used to transport the wall, Carpenter added. The memorial wall has traveled all over the country making various stops at select cities.


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Sgt.SMITH "FISH" wrote on Mar 3, 2008 10:55 AM:

" GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY MEN WOMEN & THERE FAMILIES. I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE OUR CHAPTER 890 SOUTH VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICAN.MILITARY STANDDOWN.FIRST TIME IN SANDPOINT IDAHO."WHAT" MILITARY SURPLUS CLOTHING,FOOD& SERVICES FOR ALL VETERANS & THERE FAMILIES MEMBERS."WHERE" BONNER COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS 4203 NORTH BOYER SANDPOINT IDAHO."WHEN" SATURDAY,JULY-12-08.BRING YOUR DD-214,DISCHARGE,VA CARD OR MILITARY I.D. "YOU HAVE NEVER LIVE UNTIL YOU HAVE ALMOST DIED.LIFE HAS A SPECIAL MEANING THAT THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW." Sgt.SMITH "FISH". 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP AIRBORNE MACVSOGCCN RECON - L Co 7TH RANGERS ATTACHED TO THE 101 st SCREAMING EAGLES.GOD BLESS AMERICAN "WE THE PEOPLE". FROM 0800 HRS TO 1700 HRS JULY-12-08 THIS IS ABOUT LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.SHEDDING OUR BLOOD FOR EACH OTHER & IT DON'T MEAN NOTHING.BECAUSE WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER WITH THE AIRBORNE Sgt.IN THE SKY. "

Laural wrote on Jan 16, 2008 9:38 AM:

" I am very excited for the wall to be coming to Moses Lake. I for sure will be taking my son to show him what its all about. Thank you to all of you that made this experience happen for us!!!!!!! "

J wrote on Jan 16, 2008 7:06 AM:

" I think this is wonderful and a great way for our kids in a small town to see something like this. I know I will visit with my children. I have an uncle who did not die in Vietnam but was sprayed with Agent Orange and died from that years later. "

SC wrote on Jan 15, 2008 11:12 PM:

" I have been to the Wall in DC. It was a very emotional and a true tribute to those that served and died for thier country. Regrettabably I will not be able to make it to the meeting. But, I will make it to the Wall when it comes to town.
I hope there will be more information to come. "

Jim Schueckler wrote on Jan 15, 2008 8:22 PM:

" There is a web site like the Traveling Wall. It has thousands of personal remembrances honoring those who died in Vietnam.

The web site named The Virtual Wall is at www.VirtualWall.org

The Virtual Wall web site does not accept fees, donations, or advertising in order to honor the fallen.

"