The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Our Readers Speak

October 11, 2012

Our Readers Speak — Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012

Mobile wall to honor W.Va. Vietnam vets

The mobile wall of West Virginia Vietnam veterans who were killed in action, held as prisoners of war or deemed missing in action may soon be traveling to a county near you. The West Virginia State Council Vietnam Veterans of America mobile wall committee is raising funds to build the memorial for all the state Vietnam veterans.

This list includes 733 West Virginians who are the true heroes that gave their lives in the Vietnam War. Among these there are 17 MIAs who are still missing.

The state council has sent requests to all 55 county commissions, along with the state lawmakers, in an effort to raise the $20,000 required to construct the monument. Braxton, Fayette, Mercer and Pocahontas counties have each donated $500 and Harrison County, $1,000.

The mobile wall will travel throughout the state and visit every county. It will not have a permanent home; it will always be on the move, and the intent is to take it to the communities and the public who may not have the opportunity to visit the wall in Washington, D.C. Or have not seen the traveling wall before. It is an opportunity to remember and pay homage to those who gave their all.

There are 12 chapters of Vietnam Veterans of America in the state of West Virginia and the state council in which each one will host a showing of the memorial at their respected location. Then it will travel to every other area of the state.

The wall will be constructed by JD Signs of Fairmont, once the funds are raised. The wall is made of 12 panels depicting 733 service members from West Virginia who were killed, held as POW and listed as MIAs.

The panels are two feet by four feet and made of a light composite material. The length of the wall is about 13 feet on each two sided section bringing the total length to about 26 feet. It will sit and be supported on a two tier pedestal for a total height of about six feet. The logos of the VVA and AVVA, along with the logos of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines will be on the wall.

Cecilio Bezares II

Fairmont

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