"The Moving Wall" Vietnam Memorial coming to Dexter

After many months of planning, the City of Dexter, in conjunction with the city's Tourism Committee, has scheduled "The Moving Wall," the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, to visit Dexter in August.

"The Moving Wall" is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than 30 years. When Vietnam Veteran John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he made it a personal mission to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington.

Through the efforts of Devitt and several other Vietnam veterans, The Moving Wall became a reality. It is not government funded. It has consistently been maintained by the same Vietnam veterans who silk-screened the first name onto the first panel of the wall in 1983. The wall went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the United States from April through November, spending about a week at each site.

Instrumental in securing the memorial to come to Dexter was Alderman Jerry Corder, who presides over the city's Tourism Committee.

"We were told it would be a much longer wait," Corder explained at the last meeting of the city aldermen, "but we were contacted and told there was a cancellation, and that they could come in August."

The wall will have been on display from July 23 through July 27 in Milwaukie, Oregon prior to its Dexter visit, and is scheduled to be in Hawarden, Iowa following its time in Dexter.

The memorial wall will be set up on the grounds near East City Park by the Park and Recreation gym. The public will be invited to view the wall beginning on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 and continuing through Monday, Aug. 10. Additional details as to times and other plans surrounding The Moving Wall coming to the area will be published as the August date draws nearer.

The wall was constructed in honor of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam War. On it are inscribed the names of those who gave their lives during the course of the Vietnam War and those who remain missing.

The wall itself is 253 feet in length, which is slightly longer than half the length of the Memorial that is on display in Washington, DC. With the start of the 2015 year, the Moving Wall had been displayed in a total of 1,337 communities.

Of the 58,000 names inscribed on the wall, eight are women. Sixteen of the names are military chaplains.

A number of rules are spelled out to any entity hosting a visit from The Moving Wall. Among them is the policy that no items shall be sold on the grounds where the wall is displayed. Neither is any form of entertainment allowed in the area where The Moving Wall is on exhibit.

"It is important to maintain a dignified and respectful atmosphere at The Moving Wall," organizers stress in their directions for city officials who are looking at hosting the exhibit.

A number of volunteers will be put in place to assist in setting up the memorial. It will be necessary to build a level foundation of lumber for The Moving Wall to sit upon. Explicit directions on how to construct the foundation have been supplied to city officials.