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Traveling Tribute to include Vietnam Wall replica
MESSENGER-INQUIRER, OWENSBORO, KY. | BETH WILBERDING | Sun, May 9, 8:08 AM
May 9--After more than a year of planning, the American Veterans Traveling Tribute arrives in Hawesville this week.
The Traveling Vietnam Wall is one of several components of the traveling tribute and is a four-fifths scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The memorial opens at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds on Kentucky 1389 and will be in the county until May 17. The opening ceremony is at 6 p.m.
"It gives everybody the opportunity to show their patriotism," said Roger Basinger, past post commander of Veterans of Foreign War Post 5186 in Hawesville.
The event is dedicated to Edward Ray Basham, the only Hancock County soldier to die in combat in the Vietnam War. He and his family will be honored during the opening ceremony.
Motorcyclists, including members of Rolling Thunder, will escort the tribute from Interstate 64 to the fairgrounds on Wednesday morning.
Owensboro-based VFW Post 696 has been working with the Hawesville chapter on preparations. The Owensboro post hosted The Moving Wall, another traveling replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial, last November.
VFW Post 696 donated about $2,000 to VFW Post 5186 to cover the final payment for the Traveling Tribute.
Owensboro members have also attended Post 5186's meetings and given it the outline of the Moving Wall program, said Ike Eisenmenger, VFW Post 696's commander.
"It's just a chance for everybody to pay tribute to the veterans, which is not done enough," said Eisenmenger, a Vietnam veteran.
Organizers are encouraging school groups to attend. Students from Tell City, Cannelton and Hancock County are already scheduled to visit.
Barbara Spindel, principal of South Hancock Elementary School, is arranging school tours. Students at South Hancock are studying democracy in preparation of visiting the tribute.
"I think love of country is very important and the realization that people do make sacrifices for us. ... I think it's important for kids to understand that people that came before them made sacrifices," Spindel said.
Though the Traveling Vietnam Wall is a focal point for the display, the tribute includes:
* Statistics from every war and conflict in which the U.S. has been involved.
* A series of World War II panels.
* A Korean War tribute.
* A display of U.S. historical documents.
* Panels honoring law enforcement and firefighters .
* A panel memorializing the causalities of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
* A display honoring those who died in hostile military action between the end of the Vietnam War and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
* A Sept. 11 tribute.
* A gold dog tag tribute to the members of the armed forces who have died in the global war on terror.
"I think it's important for kids to realize that we have heroes among us," Spindel said. "Some of the people they see on a regular basis at the store or at church were also people who made sacrifices."
Several special activities are planned while the tribute is in Hancock County. A special program is planned for 6 p.m. Friday in honor of Emergency Services Day.
A program for Armed Service Day is at 6 p.m. Saturday. The closing ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.
Volunteers are still needed to assist with the tribute. For more information, contact Basinger at 264-2871.
Beth Wilberding, 691-7307, bwilberding@messenger-inquirer.com
MESSENGER-INQUIRER, OWENSBORO, KY. | BETH WILBERDING | Sun, May 9, 8:08 AM
May 9--After more than a year of planning, the American Veterans Traveling Tribute arrives in Hawesville this week.
The Traveling Vietnam Wall is one of several components of the traveling tribute and is a four-fifths scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The memorial opens at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds on Kentucky 1389 and will be in the county until May 17. The opening ceremony is at 6 p.m.
"It gives everybody the opportunity to show their patriotism," said Roger Basinger, past post commander of Veterans of Foreign War Post 5186 in Hawesville.
The event is dedicated to Edward Ray Basham, the only Hancock County soldier to die in combat in the Vietnam War. He and his family will be honored during the opening ceremony.
Motorcyclists, including members of Rolling Thunder, will escort the tribute from Interstate 64 to the fairgrounds on Wednesday morning.
Owensboro-based VFW Post 696 has been working with the Hawesville chapter on preparations. The Owensboro post hosted The Moving Wall, another traveling replica of Vietnam Veterans Memorial, last November.
VFW Post 696 donated about $2,000 to VFW Post 5186 to cover the final payment for the Traveling Tribute.
Owensboro members have also attended Post 5186's meetings and given it the outline of the Moving Wall program, said Ike Eisenmenger, VFW Post 696's commander.
"It's just a chance for everybody to pay tribute to the veterans, which is not done enough," said Eisenmenger, a Vietnam veteran.
Organizers are encouraging school groups to attend. Students from Tell City, Cannelton and Hancock County are already scheduled to visit.
Barbara Spindel, principal of South Hancock Elementary School, is arranging school tours. Students at South Hancock are studying democracy in preparation of visiting the tribute.
"I think love of country is very important and the realization that people do make sacrifices for us. ... I think it's important for kids to understand that people that came before them made sacrifices," Spindel said.
Though the Traveling Vietnam Wall is a focal point for the display, the tribute includes:
* Statistics from every war and conflict in which the U.S. has been involved.
* A series of World War II panels.
* A Korean War tribute.
* A display of U.S. historical documents.
* Panels honoring law enforcement and firefighters .
* A panel memorializing the causalities of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
* A display honoring those who died in hostile military action between the end of the Vietnam War and the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
* A Sept. 11 tribute.
* A gold dog tag tribute to the members of the armed forces who have died in the global war on terror.
"I think it's important for kids to realize that we have heroes among us," Spindel said. "Some of the people they see on a regular basis at the store or at church were also people who made sacrifices."
Several special activities are planned while the tribute is in Hancock County. A special program is planned for 6 p.m. Friday in honor of Emergency Services Day.
A program for Armed Service Day is at 6 p.m. Saturday. The closing ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.
Volunteers are still needed to assist with the tribute. For more information, contact Basinger at 264-2871.
Beth Wilberding, 691-7307, bwilberding@messenger-inquirer.com
Special Events
- Wednesday May 12, 2010 - Motorcyclists, including members of Rolling Thunder, will escort the tribute from Interstate 64 to the fairgrounds
- Friday May 14, 2010 6:00 pm - Special Program honoring Emergency Services Day
- Saturday May 15, 2010 6:00 pm - Program honoring Armed Service Day
- Sunday May 16, 2010 6:00 pm - Closing Ceremony
Our Memories
Your Memories
Writings On This Wall
Take a moment and share your thoughts, emotions and memories of your visit to the Cost of Freedom tribute.
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From the time we met the "wall" and through the time it was taken down, I didn't make it through a single day without crying. Having the VFW sponsor this event and being able to participate as a volunteer meant so much to me. It was a great honor and a privilege to work with such a great group of people. A special thank you to the gentlemen that travel with the wall. They were great to work with and one could see the passion they had in support of this wonderful tribute to those that served, and for those that are currently serving in the military. Thanks to everyone for this great event! - Nancy Owens
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All of the 58,253 names on the Wall are Buddies, but 6 were friends. - Gary D. Fuchs
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AS Event Coordinator, I can't express my gratitude enough to a community that made this possible, and to the men who brought the AVTT to us. The memorials brought many people to pay tribute and to say thank you instead of spitting on us. I wish I could describe the emotions that I felt as I followed the wall to the fairgrounds and while it was displayed there. To those men and women whose names are on the "Wall", Thank you, and may you rest in peace. - Bill Hicks, Event Coordinator, SGT 355th SPS, Takhil Thailand '68-'69
It was our honor to escort the Wall to Hawesville on May 12th. Rain or shine we all respect our fallen brothers. - Chuck Moseby
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From the time we met the "wall" and through the time it was taken down, I didn't make it through a single day without crying. Having the VFW sponsor this event and being able to participate as a volunteer meant so much to me. It was a great honor and a privilege to work with such a great group of people. A special thank you to the gentlemen that travel with the wall. They were great to work with and one could see the passion they had in support of this wonderful tribute to those that served, and for those that are currently serving in the military. Thanks to everyone for this great event! - Nancy Owens
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
All of the 58,253 names on the Wall are Buddies, but 6 were friends. - Gary D. Fuchs
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AS Event Coordinator, I can't express my gratitude enough to a community that made this possible, and to the men who brought the AVTT to us. The memorials brought many people to pay tribute and to say thank you instead of spitting on us. I wish I could describe the emotions that I felt as I followed the wall to the fairgrounds and while it was displayed there. To those men and women whose names are on the "Wall", Thank you, and may you rest in peace. - Bill Hicks, Event Coordinator, SGT 355th SPS, Takhil Thailand '68-'69
It was our honor to escort the Wall to Hawesville on May 12th. Rain or shine we all respect our fallen brothers. - Chuck Moseby