Traveling Wall to visit Ennis May 5
By CAROL GREY HONZA Special to the Daily Light
Published: Friday, April 30, 2010 2:31 PM CDT
ENNIS – The local planning committee to bring the Vietnam Wall and American Veterans Traveling Tribute to Ennis met April 20, with a presentation about how more than 100 American Legion and Patriot Guard Riders will participate in the event.
The unit will include representatives from as far as Colorado and New Mexico, spokesman Bob Roberts said, saying, “We will have the honor of providing an escort for the Vietnam Wall and American Veterans Traveling Tribute on its journey from the American Legion Post 12 in Tyler, Texas, to Ennis on May 5, 2010. Other area riders will also join the caravan at the Sokol Center approximately two miles east of Ennis on (State) Highway 34 for the final staging area before entering Ennis at approximately 4:30 p.m.
“Kick stands will go up at 5 p.m. to be in downtown Ennis at approximately 5:15 p.m.,” he said. “The wall caravan will have various law enforcement and police escorts during the trip from Tyler to and through Ennis, to its assembly site located at 2301 Ennis Parkway.”
Leading the way for the Wall and Displays of Honor from the Sokol Hall in Ennis will be the Veteran’s Tribute Motorcycle, with rider Gary Towers of Granbury, Texas. The motorcycle, which is known as “Joe” after G.I. Joe, represents Vietnam veteran Tower’s long time dream to build a bike in tribute to American veterans.
Towers purchased the FLHTPI Ultra-Glide Police Special in 2004. The award-winning motorcycle’s many details represent every war and conflict where American military personnel have been involved.
“It truly becomes an emotional experience to those who know exactly what ‘Joe’ represents,” Roberts said. “Many people attend chopper and bike shows, but they will not receive the honor that ‘Joe’ can bring to each of them – a sharing of the heart and soul of our veterans past and present – to see their legacy pass on through the murals. … This is a true gift of patriotism from Gary and Brenda Towers.” The Veterans Tribute Motorcycle will be in Ennis the week of the Veterans Traveling Tribute, May 5-8 and will be located for viewing either at the Wall site on Ennis Parkway or at the American Legion Post 361 on Rumbo Road in Ennis.
‘Joe’ to lead honor guard riders in veterans celebration
Carol Grey Honza, Special to the EDN
04-30-2010
A group of more than 100 American Legion and Patriot Guard riders will escort the Vietnam Wall and American Veterans Traveling Tribute from Tyler to Ennis on Wednesday, and a special guest will lead the procession once it reaches Sokol Hall.
The Veteran’s Tribute Motorcycle, with rider Gary Towers of Granbury, will join the procession at that point, as will a number of other area riders who are scheduled to meet up with the caravan at Sokol.
The Veteran’s Tribute Motorcycle, named Joe, was borne from an idea for a cycle that has been a long time dream of Towers, who is a Vietnam veteran. He says his dream became an obsession of the heart — to build a bike in tribute to American veterans.
American Veterans Traveling Tribute
| American Veterans Traveling Tribute |
| |
| April 29th, 2010 |
Ennis - American Veterans Traveling Tribute (Memorial Veterans Wall) Caravan arrives at Sokol Hall approx 4:30 PM. Hundreds of American Legion and Patriot Guard Ridersserving as Honor Guards meet additional area Riders at Sokol. American Veterans Tribute Motorcycle, leads Wall procession through downtown Ennis starting at 5:15 PM going to Wall assembly site: 2301 Ennis Parkway (the old Intermediate School location.) The public is invited to welcome the honor Caravan through Ennis!
Thursday - Sunday May 6,- 9
American Veterans Traveling Tribute (Wall Site)
2301 Ennis Parkway - (Behind Don Jose's Restaurant) Thursday, begins the 4 days of memorial ceremonies and programs at the Wall site highlighted by large Patriotic Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. Thursday's Opening Starts at 2:00 p.m. Each day numerous programs and ceremonies. Sunday - an all denomination Worship Service starting 1:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony at 7 p.m. ends with Ride of Honor featuring Patriot Guard and area riders.
Saturday May 8
Ennis' first Patriotic Parade - Welcome Home - Ennis Honors Her Heroes 10:00 a.m, in Downtown Ennis - To honor the heroes who fought and died in all wars and conflicts for our freedom. Over 50 parade entries. Come join the fun! The parade will be followed by ceremonies and programs all day at the Wall site.
Veterans tribute coming to LTHS, May 12-16
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 | Charles McClure
Mike Boston was frustrated. The Lakeway Heritage Center archivist had welcomed a group of Boy Scouts to the historical nerve center of the community.
As he showed the scouts around the heritage center, he pointed to a poster the troop had signed commemorating the 9-11 tragedy. “So who can tell me what this is all about?” Boston asked.
But not a peep came from the scouts, only blank faces stared in his direction.
“None of the scouts responded — not one,” Boston, a retired Navy Captain, lamented.
For Boston, who grew up in the shadow of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the silence was a wake up call.
“When I was growing up, every kid knew what had happened at Pearl Harbor,” he said.
He pondered how could this happen. How was it that any American child could not know what took place just a few years earlier — a tragedy that redefined a nation and ignited a world wide war on terrorism.
Time passed, but the Vietnam veteran continued to contemplate the issue. Boston began discussing what had happened with friends in the community — particularly with his fellow veterans.
For a time, he mulled bringing the Vietnam Moving Wall, a scaled down replica of the famed Vietnam Veterans Memorial — affectionately called “The Wall,” located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The memorial bears the names of the 58,205 soldiers that were killed or remain missing in action from the war.
But there is a long waiting list for the Moving Wall, and Boston wanted something that would encompass a broader spectrum of American history. And that’s when he discovered the American Veterans Traveling Tribute’s (AVTT) Price of Freedom Monument.
What makes the AVTT unique is that it has multiple displays representing statistics from every war/conflict that the U.S. has been involved in. Of course, it takes money to bring a memorial to any community, but Boston found help in the form of the Lakeway Civic Corporation (LCC), a non-profit organization that assists community needs with grants.
By the Fall of 2009, with LCC making a generous grant, Boston had found mountains of support on the South shores of Lake Travis. Utilizing all the years of experience he had amassed as an officer in the Navy, he cofounded the Price of Freedom Committee to prepare for the upcoming exhibit.
The months of work have paid off and now the Price of Freedom is coming to the Lake Travis High School football field from May 12-16.
Boston has found allies everywhere — including the Lake Travis Independent School District, which has designed a curriculum especially for the monument.
Dr. Diane Frost, the deputy superintendent at LTISD, said the Price of Freedom Monument offered a unique opportunity for a hands-on American history lesson.
“When we knew the monument was coming to Lake Travis High School, we wanted it to be more than just an event — we wanted to tailor a curriculum that could benefit our students,” Frost said. “This is a singular opportunity for our students.”
An estimated 3,000 students will visit the venue.
“The exhibit essentially pays tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the liberties and freedoms enjoyed by Americans since the American Revolution, up to and including the Global War on Terror,” Boston said. “The exhibit will be open to the public 24-hours a day, with special events planned for Saturday and Sunday.
Groups from any and all local public and private schools are strongly encouraged to attend.”
While the major sponsor of the exhibit is the Lakeway Civic Corporation, Boston points out that other contributions have been made by Weed-Corley-Fish, American Airlines, America’s Huey 091 Foundation, and Lochow Ranch.
“No less important are other cash donations by local families, and the in-kind contributions and percentage of sales donations by local businesses such as the Chicken Express, Chick-Fil-A, Hill Country Spring Water, The Summit of Lakeway, Mangieri’s Pizza, Mimi’s Café, the Donut Hole, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, the Point of Origin, and Dog-A-Dillo,” Boston said.
The exhibit can be viewed on www.avtt.org, and the schedule of events and other information about the Lakeway exhibit can be viewed on www.thepriceoffreedomlaketravis.org.
In His Honor
Memories of Vietnam veteran from Selma remain strong as his memorial prepares to add his name
The American Veterans Traveling Tribune Wall is on display at Riverside Park near downtown Grants Pass. Mail Tribune Photo / Jamie Lusch
Jamie Lusch
April 22, 2010
By Paul Fattig
Mail Tribune
The Vietnam War may have ended in 1975 but it killed Marine Corps veteran John Granville three years ago this Monday.
The name of the Selma resident, who died April 26, 2007, at 58, will be inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day along with four others whose wounds in that war contributed to their deaths.
Lance Cpl. Granville lost both legs after stepping on a land mine a few miles south of Danang on June 12, 1968.
"Because of his amputations, he ended up with heart disease," explained his widow, Chris Granville. "The VA decided he died because of his wounds in Vietnam. There is a direct link to his wounds."
Chris, his wife for nearly 29 years upon his death, said she began working with the U.S. Department of Defense two years ago to get his name etched on the granite wall along with others he knew from Vietnam. She and other family members will be at the ceremony on Memorial Day.
"Vietnam killed John — it just took him until 2007 to die," said former Marine Corps Sgt. Wayne Owen, 65, of Grants Pass, owner of the Wayne Owen Fighting Arts school where Granville earned a black belt in judo in the early 1990s.
"He was an inspiration to all of us," he added. "Everybody complains, but after you saw John out there working out, you quit complaining. He had a great attitude. Nobody who met him ever forgot him."
Medford resident John Waldrop, 62, a former Marine who lost both of his legs below the knees in Vietnam on June 20, 1969, agreed that their friend's 1968 wounds led to his death, citing the long-term health problems those with similar wounds encounter.
"He was a good guy," Waldrop said, noting he admired him for his mental toughness.
Like Granville, Waldrop was awarded two Purple Heart medals. Both were wounded in action in the same area in Vietnam, albeit a year apart.
And, like Granville, Waldrop refused to let his injuries keep him down. After being discharged, the avid golfer worked in an open pit coal mine in Wyoming and as a mechanic before retiring.
"But to be honest with you, I didn't know how he could do it, wearing his shoes backwards and having people stare at him," Waldrop acknowledged. "I get a little emotional when people stare at me."
Granville, who had one leg missing at the knee and the other just above the knee, overcame a challenge to walk by putting his artificial feet on backwards. Placing them in the normal forward position didn't work, he said in an interview with the Mail Tribune in 2004.
"My limbmaker and I came up with this," he said. "It helps tip the hips back so you can go forward."
Friends and family members will tell you he always went forward, becoming a black belt in judo in 1994 as well as an instructor, working as a training officer for the Rogue Valley Young Marines and firing rounds as part of the honor guard at the Eagle Point National Cemetery.
"The first time I went to his house, he was on the kitchen counter sanding away, redoing his kitchen," recalled Vietnam War veteran Jim Hale, 71, of Grants Pass, who retired from the Corps after 20 years, rising through the enlisted ranks to become a first lieutenant in what was known as a "mustang." Hale, the commandant of the Rogue Valley detachment of the Marine Corps League, gave the eulogy at his friend's funeral.
Granville may have been shortened physically by his wounds, but he stood tall to those who knew him, Hale indicated in an interview Wednesday.
Hale, who is personally familiar with several names on the wall, said it is appropriate his friend's name be inscribed on the memorial.
"He told me before he passed that he would do it all over again, including lose his legs," Hale said. "He was very proud of the Corps, of his service. He was a proud man. There are a lot of us who could take a lesson from him how he lived his life."
JoAnna Gavlik, 29, one of the Granvilles' two daughters, said their father demonstrated by his actions that life was to be lived fully.
"He had a real zest for life, always busy doing something," she said. "He never slowed down. He was definitely an inspiration for us."
In fact, her brother, J.J. Granville, is now a corporal in the Marines who has served one tour in Iraq.
In the 2004 interview, John Granville credited his religious faith for his survival. "My cup still runs over," he said, referring to his family.
Chris Granville, who met her future husband at the VA hospital in Portland where she was working as an X-ray technician, said he didn't start out with the intention of inspiring others.
"He never believed he could inspire people," she said. "But he showed that you can continue to do things in life, that a disability doesn't have to make a difference."
Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at pfattig@mailtribune.com.
Lakeway council welcomes vets tribute with proclamation
Thursday, April 22, 2010 | Devin Monk
The Lakeway City Council saluted the American Veterans Traveling Tribute set for May 12-17 at the Lake Travis High School football field.
The city passed a proclamation recognizing the upcoming event.
Lakeway archivist and Price of Freedom committee chair Mike Boston thanked the city for its endorsement. Boston also recognized Lake Travis ISD and City of Bee Cave as contributors to the effort to bring the traveling display to Lake Travis.
The tribute features the Traveling Vietnam Wall, an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall is more than 380 feet long from end to end and contains all 58,253 names. The displays also present statistics from every war and conflict that the USA has been involved in, a series of World War II panels portraying the entire timeline of events and a Korean War tribute representing the timeline of the entire conflict with corresponding battle maps and photos. It also includes a timeline, series of facts and figures, and a display of art from Vietnam veteran artists depicting patriotic and veteran themes, in addition to a display of U.S. founding and significant historical documents including the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and other historical documents.
Other displays memorialize the casualties at the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, the names of all 2,984 casualties of 9-11 organized by where they were located at the time of death and the AVTT Gold Dog Tag display, which honors those who have fallen and to which there is not currently a memorial for their honor and remembrance.
Boston expressly thanked the Lakeway Civic Corp. for its support.
“I cannot thank the Lakeway Civic Corp. enough for being a major sponsor for this event,” he said, adding that the tribute relies solely on volunteers and donations.
Following his statements, Mayor Dave DeOme proclaimed the week of May 10 as Price of Freedom Week in Lakeway.
Lakeway proclaims week of May 10 as "Price of Freedom" week
By Tiffany Young
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
LAKEWAY — Lakeway Mayor Dave DeOme proclaimed the week of May 10 as “Price of Freedom” week at the April 19 city council meeting.
Mike Boston, a resident of Lakeway and co-chair of the Price of Freedom event, has been working to bring the American Veterans Traveling Tribute to Lakeway for about two years. The Cost of Freedom Tribute, an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display May 12 to 16 with opening and closing ceremonies to honor and remember veterans.
The Lake Travis Independent School District has scheduled more than 3,000 students to visit the tribute throughout the week.
Boston said the school system’s support is important and one of the reasons they are bringing the tribute to Lakeway.
“I can think back on my childhood years, and the educational system doesn’t address what the cost of freedom is really all about. They can’t get to the heart of the sacrifice,” Boston said.
He said that he’d never forget the day he took his then six-year-old grandson to see the exhibit.
“The innocence of a six year old looking at that is forever embedded in my mind. He said to me, ‘Grandpa, that many people died in the Vietnam War?’” Boston said. “I think when the young people visit, they’ll be able to reflect not only the Vietnam aspect, but all the way back to the Revolutionary War.”
While there are more than 150 volunteers and numerous individual and business sponsors, and endorsements from community and city organizations, event coordinators are still looking for donations and on-site guards throughout the event. Visit www.thepriceoffreedomlaketravis.com for more information on the event or to find out more about getting involved.
Schedule of events
Opening ceremonies Saturday, May 15 Program starts at 10 a.m.
- Lakeway Sing-Along Choir Ensemble
- USAF F16 fighters fly-over
- University of Texas Football Coach Ken Rucker
- USAF Band of the West-Gateway Brass
- Dottie’s Follies Dancing Ensemble
- Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans Firebase ceremony
6:30 p.m. Performance by Heather Wiley
7:30 p.m. Comments from B.G. “Jug” Burkett
7:45 p.m. Performance by Kira Small
8:42 p.m. “God Bless The USA” by LTMS Student Kalie Naftzger
8:45 p.m. Fireworks Display
8:50 p.m. Performance by Granger Smith
9:55 p.m. Lights Out
Patriots Swear in As US Citizens at American Heroes Celebration
Story by Staff Sgt. Daniel Griego
Date: 04.19.2010
Posted: 04.20.2010 01:24
"Patriotism is voluntary," said former Seaman and politician Jesse Ventura. "It is a feeling of loyalty and allegiance that is the result of knowledge and belief."
One could not find greater patriotism than from the servicemembers who valiantly serve a country of which they are not citizens. For 15 such veterans, that changed on Saturday, April 17 when the Honorable Lee Yeakel opened a special session of the US District Court to swear in these incomparable volunteers as US citizens.
The ceremony, held during Camp Mabry's 4th annual American Heroes Celebration, took place in front of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Traveling Wall. The wall, which is a precise replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., offered a somber and reverent setting for this significant occasion.
"I can think of no more appropriate place for this," said Retired Lt. Col. Donald R. Allen, CEO of the AVTT, who also served as the distinguished guest speaker for the event. "Our history has taught us that we were founded on the principle of freedom at any cost."
The newly immunized citizens came from 13 different countries, including Kenya, Mexico, Russia and Kazakhstan. Their services included the US Army, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. The troops, ranging in ages from 19 to 39, included four combat veterans and eight Texas residents.
Army Spc. Victor A. Becerra, who was born in Mexico and raised in California, deployed to Iraq twice before even becoming a citizen. A member of the 36th Infantry Division, he spent his second deployment to Iraq training their police force.
"What we were doing was overseeing the training of 6th Iraqi division," he said, "to make sure that their forces were properly trained so they could stand to protect the region that they were in charge of."
Becerra always felt close to the nation for which he's served for years.
"I've been an American since I first put on this uniform, ever since I started speaking the language," he said. "I feel just as proud to be a part of this country."
Maj. Gen. Jose S. Mayorga, commander of the Texas Military Forces, presented each new citizen with his coin and congratulated them on their achievement.
"It took maybe six to eight months," said Becerra. "That included the studying for the exam for the interview. It's good to know how this country has developed when it was founded back in the 18th century."
"They were defending and protecting and fighting for a country that they weren't even a citizen of," said Allen. "That, my friend, is a true measure of patriotism, these are great patriots. We should be very proud that as a country, there are people that are willing to fight for us to become one of us."
Without a doubt, these brave servicemembers have worked and devoted themselves to the fulfillment of a life of service.
"I've always been an American at heart," said Becerra. "But I could say that today, it's official; I am an American."
Camp Mabry Muster Day celebration toughs out the weather
Heroes event draws crowds despite clouds, rain
By Joshunda Sanders
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 11:50 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2010
Published: 8:56 p.m. Saturday, April 17, 2010
The overcast skies and brief downpours kept the helicopters from taking off as planned from Camp Mabry on Saturday during the American Heroes and Muster Day celebration, but the annual tradition of parades, demonstrations and war re-enactments went on anyway.
In the days before advanced technology, Muster Day was the annual counting of soldiers by the military. Now that there are more efficient ways of counting military forces, said Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada, a spokeswoman for Camp Mabry , the celebration has become more ceremonial.
"It's a way to recognize people in all kinds of uniforms, from the military, to police officers, because all of these people fight for others in some way," Moncada said.
She said Muster Day activities had been held at Camp Mabry since 1972, and while the mercurial skies kept some people away, she was optimistic that there would be as many visitors to the free event as in 2009, when 20,000 came.
The celebration began with an opening ceremony that included a parade of military members and a performance by the Austin Police Department's Pipe and Drum Corps.
Throughout Camp Mabry, there were reenactments of Civil War and World War II battles and demonstrations of everything from how Buffalo Soldiers lived and fought to search-and-rescue dogs.
The main activities also included pony rides for children, and there were a few food vendors selling kettle corn and ribbon fries.
In front of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute — a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington — U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel swore in 15 newly naturalized citizens who had signed up to serve in the military.
"Our country is very proud of all our men and women, and I think we should be very proud of those who want to fight for our country," said Don Allen, the chief executive officer of the tribute.
Col. Dan Harris, a member of the Texas National Guard who was attending the day's activities and stood in full uniform among his fellow soldiers in the rain, watched the judge declare the new service members United States citizens.
He said that watching the brief ceremony was one of the highlights of the 38-year-old tradition of Muster Day for him. It was more significant because he had just returned from Afghanistan with a unit in January, where he worked with the Texas Agribusiness Development Team helping people in the provinces there develop their own resources so they wouldn't seek help from the Taliban.
"It makes me really happy to see 13 soldiers who weren't even citizens and they still joined the military because they care that much," Harris said.
jsanders@statesman.com; 445-3630
Patriotism Without Politics
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Steve DePolito's latest documentary is about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute's visit to Norwich last year. An 80% replica of the Vietnam Memorial, referred to as ‘the Wall,’ is the AVTT’s centerpiece.
by Roger Zotti
In Honor Respect Remember, filmmaker Steve DePolito, Preston, set out to have viewers “see a display of patriotism without politics and observe people gathering simply to honor the fallen, respect those who served and remember their service to our country.” Clearly, Steve accomplished his goal – for his film resonates with viewers long after it’s seen. “Its title is taken from the American Veterans Traveling Tribute’s website and could be considered the group’s mission statement,” Steve added.
The documentary – which Steve wrote, produced, and directed – is about the AVTT’s five day visit to Norwich, in June, last year. “The Norwich VFW, Post 594, sponsored the visit,” Steve said. “It coincided with Norwich’s 350th birthday celebration. An 80% replica of the Vietnam Memorial, referred to as ‘the Wall,’ is the AVTT’s centerpiece. There were other displays honoring the men and women who fought in America’s wars and also those lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.”
For Steve, the most challenging part of the project was “filming the five days pretty much on my own. What really helped was the additional video – which my wife Sherri filmed – of the parade from Montville to Norwich on the event’s first day, and also the still photos Dominic Cortese took at various times during the event.” Steve filmed close to five hours of video, he said, “to produce a 27 minute film. In Brewster’s Neck, my film about Norwich Hospital, I filmed 10 hours to make a 60 minute film. But that’s how it goes.”
It was impossible to make a film of this type, Steve explained, “without people making speeches – since speeches were a big part of the event. But I kept them to a minimum; and with the ones I used, I conveyed a sense of continuity.” The speakers “covered WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the present day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.” The only speech Steve didn’t edit was Robert Howard, Jr’s affecting remarks on the loss of his father 40 years ago in Vietnam.
Filmmaker Steve DePolito set out to have viewers “see a display of patriotism without politics and observe people gathering simply to honor the fallen.”
Documentarian Ken Burns is one of Steve’s influences. “Actually, it’s hard not to be influenced by him,” Steve said. Others influences are Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarrentino. “A technique I used in this and prior projects were sudden, dramatic transitions from one scene to another. If you’ve seen Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, you know what I’m talking about – though my transitions aren’t as dramatic as the ones in those films.”
Steve continued, “The narration I scripted was nicely done by Johnny London, the ‘voice of Norwich’ for over 30 years.” Mark Wayne produced the narration. (Johnny and Mark also worked with Steve on the documentaries Brewster’s Neck and America’s Only Hope (which is about Johnny E. Kelley’s 1957 Boston Marathon victory.) The film will be screened on Norwich Comcast, April 21, at 4:00 pm, and April 23, 4:00 pm. Copies are now available at Otis Library, Norwich. Honor Respect Remember has been placed in the Norwich Time Capsule and will be opened in 2059.
Oceanside: Wall of Remembrance
Fred Zariczny has never seen the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., but his first encounter last year in Washington state with the traveling replica now on display at the El Corazon Senior Center in Oceanside was powerful enough.
"It broke my heart," said Zariczny, a veteran known as Pastor Z to those at Oceanside's Rushing Wind Ministries.
"It was then I knew we needed something like this for the people of Oceanside," he said.
The centerpiece of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute that opened yesterday is an 80 percent scale replica of the original.
It comprises 48 slabs of faux granite engraved with the approximately 58,250 names of the U.S. servicemen and 8 servicewomen who died in the decades-long Asian conflict that ended in 1975.
Nine 12-by-18-foot displays of the U.S. conflicts fought since Vietnam also are part of the tribute, which is free to the public.
"There are seven traveling memorials in the United States," said Zariczny, founder of Bikers for Christ International. "We paid to bring in the largest tribute in the U.S. to Oceanside. My hope is that this memorial will bring some healing and hope to the city."
With the help of volunteers, and donations from the community, church organizations and local businesses, the tribute came to town after a year of planning and preparation.
"(An anonymous veteran) donated $15,000 to bring this event to Oceanside," Rosemarie Morris, a member of Rushing Wind Ministries, said.
For Steve Doty, president of the Texas-based traveling tribute and a U.S. Air Force veteran, the passion to share the wall with thousands across the nation is a labor of love.
"This is not a source of income," Doty said. "This is a mission and a passion for us."
Doty travels with the wall throughout the year with his friend and tribute co-founder, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Don Allen.
The tribute is on the road from late February through November, with the final stop on Veterans Day in South Carolina.
"We travel to communities, whether they're big or small," Doty said. "It's a time of sharing, meeting old friends and celebrating our freedoms."
It's also a way of sharing the emotional impact of the wall.
"We want to honor, respect, and remember those who served and those who are serving," Doty said.
"Not many can go to D.C., and many won't go."
During yesterday's opening ceremonies, groups of active and retired service members combed the memorial for names of those they served alongside.
Others, such as retired sailor John McDaniels, were hesitant to look for the names of friends who had died so many years ago.
"There was a lot of loss of good men for something we believed in," McDaniels said as he choked back tears. "I'm not sure if I want to find any of my buddies."
Many younger service members saw this event as an opportunity to pay their respects.
"There is a bond that never goes away," Camp Pendleton Marine Capt. Daryl Desimone said. "In the day-to-day activities, it's so easy to lose focus. It's a good reminder to remind ourselves of those who went before us."
"It doesn't take a vet to honor a vet," Doty said. "Never forget."
Call staff writer Christina Lopez at 760-740-5416.
Patriot Days coming to county
| 4/15/2010 6:00:00 AM |
| Courtesy/TODAY’S NEWS-HERALD Dana Haley of Hisperia, Calif., holds a rubbing of a name off the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Memorial wall last year for Jack Brammer, of San Bernardino, Calif. |
OCEANSIDE: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall replica on display through Sunday
Motorcyclists Daniel Barajas, left, and Bill Weber, both of San Bernardino, greet each other at the El Corazon Senior Center in Oceanside on Wednesday where the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall replica will be displayed. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff photographer)
A crew of more than 200 motorcyclists rode through Oceanside on Wednesday afternoon, escorting a traveling memorial to Vietnam veterans that will be on display over the next several days at the El Corazon Senior Center.
Many of the bikers were veterans, with bright patches and pins broadcasting their service or American flags on their jackets and vests.
The memorial they brought to town is a 370-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The wall will be on display at the senior center from Thursday through Sunday and is sure to attract a crowd, said Fred Zariczny, a Vietnam-era veteran and pastor of Rushing Wind Ministries.
Zariczny said his congregation sponsored the traveling wall, owned by American Veterans Travelling Tribute, because they wanted to honor the area's many servicemen and women. He invited people from throughout the region to visit the exhibit.
He said the memorial gives servicemen and women, their families and friends a place to honor those who have been killed in combat.
"We believe there's a lot of people that need to be recognized, honored and thanked for their service to our country," he said. "People have lost family members in these wars, and we want to tell them we love them and God loves them."
The wall, made from metal, is about 80 percent of the size of the granite monument in the nation's capital. It is one of several walls that travel throughout the United States to pay homage to soldiers killed in that conflict. The wall contains the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who were killed overseas during the Vietnam War.
The replica wall will be open for free viewing from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
A ceremony with guest speakers and music will be held at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Rushing Winds Ministry will hold a church service at the wall at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The exhibit is at the El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive off Rancho del Oro Drive near Oceanside Boulevard.
The four-day installation will also feature memorials for World Wars I and II, the Korean War and Sept. 11, and nine presentation boards featuring gold dog tags engraved with the names of soldiers who were killed during any war since the Vietnam War.
Shirley Doty, who with her husband, Steve, is a part owner of Americans Veterans Travelling Tribute, said the company travels wherever they are invited to display the wall. Their version of the traveling wall ---- which is different from the wall that came to Oceanside in 2004 and was on display in San Diego last week ---- will visit 35 cities in 2010.
"The wall is to honor, remember and respect all who served," Doty said Wednesday. "It's for the people that can't go to D.C."
John Stryker Meyer, coordinator of the veterans program at Interfaith Community Services and a Vietnam War veteran, said he plans to visit the wall this weekend. He said the replica wall that visited Oceanside six years ago allowed many veterans to open up about their experiences in Vietnam.
"The wall has a profound healing effect on a lot of people," he said. "It's a poignant reminder of the price our country paid for that conflict. (Visiting) it is a major event for at least Vietnam vets, their families, and for those who knew people that died there or were MIAs."
The event is sponsored by Rushing Winds Ministries, Recon Mountaineer, Bikers for Christ International, Quick Throttle Magazine, Wheels of Grace Magazine and Marriott Residence Inn.
Visit www.rushingwindministries.org.
Call staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067.
Motorcyclists to ride with war memorial replica
BY BRUCE LIEBERMAN, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010 AT 10:28 P.M.
SAN DIEGO — Motorcyclists from around the county will ride from San Diego to Oceanside on Wednesday to show their support for a four-day installation of a traveling replica of the Vietnam War Memorial wall in Washington, D.C.
The “American Veterans Traveling Tribute” begins at noon Thursday at the El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive in Oceanside.
Today at 9 a.m., motorcyclists are expected to begin arriving at San Diego Harley-Davidson in Kearny Mesa, 5600 Kearny Mesa Road. They will then accompany a semi-truck carrying the replica up to Oceanside, traveling on state Route 163, Interstate 805 and Interstate 5.
The four-day visit at the senior center will feature an opening ceremony, a concert, guest speakers and a church service. The wall will be on display from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The event is sponsored by Rushing Wind Ministries in Oceanside, Recon Mountaineer, Bikers for Christ International, Wheels of Grace Magazine, Quick Throttle Magazine and Marriott Residence Inn.
For more information, go to rushingwindministries.org.
PATRIOT DAYS IN LAKE HAVASU COMMUNITY PATRIOT DAYS IN LAKE HAVASU COMMUNITY Patriot Days in Lake Havasu Commuity
CONTACT: GREG TRYON LHC HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION 928-208-3463
PATRIOT DAYS IN LAKE HAVASU COMMUNITY
We are excited today to announce the establishment of the First Annual “Patriot Days” in our community, during the period 15 to 26 September 2010. This will be a community wide and national event with the centerpiece being the return of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT), Cost of Freedom Tribute and Traveling Wall. The focus is to demonstrate to the world that the Lake Havasu Community is indeed the most patriotic in the country. We will be showcasing all of our local events, talent, and establishments while combining ongoing events at the tribute which will be located in Windsor Park. The 10 days will be chocked with both ceremonial and fun activities and events for everyone. This event will be promoted nationwide and will use all the latest technology for sharing media during the event at all the different locations.
According to Greg Tryon Executive Director of the Hospitality Association, “We want to stress that this is an event that is coming from the grass roots and is self funded. No funding has been requested from any of the governmental entities. All we need is their normal infrastructure support as we bring new and returning visitors to the community to be part this event. We have no particular political agenda and simply want to come together among ourselves and invite others to join us in Celebrating the Freedom we have been given by those throughout our history whom we have asked to defend and protect us.”
A key element to Patriot Days will be in our joining as a community in support of Operation Gratitude (national 501c3 charity) in their mission to send care packages to the troops deployed outside the United States. According to Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude, “We have all the items for putting in the boxes; we just need the $11 that we must pay for postage for each box. Also we need the personal letters to go in each box so that each soldier has an immediate connection to someone caring about their service. Help us get those 100,000 packages out this year. We are blessed that Traceye Jones from LH has volunteered to be the Operation Gratitude Representative and to be the facilitator of your history making event. We can’t thank her enough.”
“We want to raise the postage for 20,000 plus packages and provide 20,000 plus letters for the troops. By doing so, we will be the first city in the US to do this together and we will be setting the standard for the rest of the country. I can think of no better way to show who we are and what we stand for, “said Dante Marinelli, President of Board, LHC Hospitality Association. Don Allen, CEO of AVTT, stated, “We are excited to be part of this First Annual Patriot Days from the very beginning. LH is a great community with the Diversity of the city, Parker, Bullhead, Kingman and the Native American tribes. By the time we get here we will have spread the word throughout the US and we will expect large numbers of visitors from both the region and the country to this community.”
Monthly updates will follow.
Bringing In The Wall
By Diane Saunders Staff Writer Published on Sunday, April 4, 2010 8:11 AM MST
Firth Park was transformed into a military memorial Wednesday after the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall arrived in Safford.
About 100 motorcycles escorted the truck carrying the replica Vietnam memorial wall and other military displays from the New Mexico line through Duncan and into Safford. The entourage included a hearse carrying a symbolic flag-draped coffin provided by Safford Funeral Home.
The funeral home also provided a limousine that carried local veterans from World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, said Steve Oller, club manager and financial officer of the Swift Murphy American Legion Post 32, which sponsored the display.
| Solomon resident Daniel Robles points toward Highway 70 as he tells his grandson, Jordan Robles, to watch for motorcycles as they await the arrival of American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall. Photo by Diane Saunders |
Among those greeting the entourage was the Daniel Robles family, who set up a patriotic display near Solomon. The display included a large American flag and a U.S. Marine Corps flag.
Robles, a former U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, said he is the historian for American Legion Post 95 in Solomon.
“I’m glad to be a member of Post 95. Our commander, Ray Apodaca, was a Marine combat veteran in Vietnam who received the Silver Star for bravery,” Robles said.
After a brief welcoming ceremony at Wal-Mart, the truck delivered components of the display to Firth Park, where 20 inmates from the Arizona State Prison-Safford assisted with set- up.
Inmate Dennis Larson, a Vietnam veteran, said setting up the display brought back memories of his 25 months of service in that country.
“It’s very emotional to me,” Larson said. “It seems that since 9-11 we’ve been a lot more recognized. It’s an honor to pay tribute to these guys.”
According to Larson, he served on a Navy gun boat in Vietnam from July 1966 through August 1968.
Inmate Marlon Hobbs, who is an Air Force veteran but did not serve in Vietnam, said all members of the United States military understand the sacrifices Vietnam veterans made for the United States.
“All these individuals have paid the ultimate price, and that’s with their lives,” Hobbs said.
Valerie Williams of the local Veterans Administration office was at Firth Park as the military displays were set up.
“This will be a very sacramental sacred event for the Vietnam veterans,” she said.
Local veteran Buddy Reynolds, a disabled Vietnam veteran, agreed, saying the military tribute will promote “the healing process” of Vietnam veterans.
According to Williams, her office serves about 900 military veterans, of which about three-quarters are Vietnam veterans.
The wall and several other military tribute displays will be open around the clock through April 11. Firth Park is at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Highway 70.