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The Wall That Heals to visit Apalachicola, Florida - APRIL 30 - MAY 3, 2009
The Wall That Heals, a brand new version of the traveling, half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will visit Apalachicola, Florida at the end of April. This new memorial wall will be on display in Apalachicola’s Veterans Memorial Plaza Thursday, April 30th through Sunday, May 3rd. Apalachicola will be the third stop on its initial national tour. The Veterans Tribute Motorcycle, a rolling work of automotive art by Lewis Colon, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, traveling with The Wall That Heals, will be ridden as a part of the motorcycle escort.
The Wall That Heals also features a new Traveling Museum and Information Center providing a comprehensive educational component to enrich and complete visitors’ experiences. The Museum features some of the more than 100,000 items that have been left at The Wall since it was built, as well as items left at The Wall That Heals. The exhibits also feature photos and biographical information on some of the more than 58,000 individuals whose names are on The Wall. Other displays chronicle the history of The Wall and facts about the Vietnam War. The Information Center will be staffed by volunteers who will assist visitors in finding names on The Wall. In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs from Tallahassee, Florida will have a moblie Vet Center on site during this event to provide counseling and information on services available to all veterans.
During this event, The Wall will be featured alongside Apalachicola’s Three Soldiers, Detail, the sole authorized partial-scale replica of the Three Servicemen Statue. This one-of-a-kind event will be the only time these two national memorials will be presented together outside of Washington, D.C. The public is invited to welcome the motorcycle motorcade escorting The Wall That Heals entering Apalachicola from the west on Highway 98, on Tuesday, April 28th around 1 p.m. (all times are EST). Show your patriotism with banners and flags as it passes along its route to the endpoint next to the Three Soldiers, Detail.
The Opening Ceremony will feature Ann Wolcott, past national President of the National Gold Star Mothers, as keynote speaker; the very moving Missing Man Table & Honors ceremony presented by the Tyndall Honor Guard; and a presentation of patriotic music and song. Country Western veteran, Chuck Price, of “Unsung Hero” fame is expected to sing during the opening and closing ceremonies. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled on Thursday, April 30th at 11 a.m. A special program for schools will be held on Friday, May 1st at 10 a.m.
The Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 3rd at 7 p.m. Featured keynote speaker will be Apalachicola native and West Point graduate, COL (USA-Ret) Harry Buzzett. This ceremony will include a bagpipe tribute to veterans; flag folding ceremony and a firing party honors detachment from the Tyndall Honor Guard; and a special rendition of Taps.
This event is a joint venture between its sponsor, Three Servicemen Statue South, Inc. and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. If you would like to volunteer for the event, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Tom Brocato at broc@fairpoint.net or phone 850-596-2723.
You may also visit this page of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website.
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Port St. Joe welcomes The Wall That Heals motorcycle escort. CLICK HERE for more information.
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The Three Servicemen Statue South non-profit organization was created to raise the necessary funds to bring this one-of-kind detail of the original sculpture to Apalachicola, Florida. The Three Soldiers, Detail bronze sculpture, made from part of the original molds, is set on a black granite pedestal and is the centerpiece of Apalachicola's Veterans Memorial Plaza.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jimmy G. Mosconis, President
Mark Curenton, Secretary/Treasurer
James S. Elliott
Al Mirabella, Jr.
George W. Duren
Helen Townsend Spohrer
Curt Blair
Dewey A. Blaylock
Jim Norton
Nick Yonclas, Legal Counsel
Genie Nichols, Assistant to President
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