Traveling Vietnam Memorial and Park Rededication in Orange City, Florida

Anyone who has encountered the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., can tell you how utterly profound the moment is- witnessing by the list of names in the order they fell, those soldiers who died in action between 1959- 1975.

For many who can not or never will travel to the nations capital, The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, A 3/5 replica of the memorial in Washington D.C., gave some the chance when it arrived June 28, 2007, in Orange City, Florida. The memorial wall, which lists the names of 58,249 men and 8 women, is the centerpiece of patriotic activities, beginning June 30 through July 2.

The wall, displayed at the Rotary Park , 426 S. Volusia Ave., in Orange City, was built in the Florida cities of Cocoa and Melbourne, and funded by the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard (county, Florida). The Traveling memorial arrived June 28, escorted by 100+ motorcyclists, cars of veterans, and police cruisers from Boca Raton, Florida. Twenty four- seven security is being provided by volunteers and veterans. According to Orange City community relations, the city paid $4500 to have the privilege to display the Vietnam wall.

On Saturday, June 30, at 10:30 a.m., the city vice mayor (Tony Yebba) and the city mayor ( Ted Erwin) opened up the patriotic activities, kicking off the 5th Annual West Volusia Freedom Festival. A pastoral prayer was led by Reverend John Reynolds, followed by Lloyd Marcus, who sang a song he wrote in salute to the Vietnam Vets- "Welcome Home". Two Vietnam Veterans spoke on how they felt about the wall. The first speaker, Capt. David Walters, US Army Retired, served our county through 2 tours in Vietnam, 1 tour in Korea, 1 tour in Germany from 1966- 1986. Walters reminded the crowd of the grim statistics that the wall represents:

Of those soldiers killed in Vietnam:
the youngest to die was 15 years old; the oldest 62
5 were 16 years old
12 were 17 years old
17, 000 were married
25,000 were under 20 years old.

Of the number of soldiers killed in action their first day in country: 997
Of the number of soldiers killed on their last day of a 12 month tour: 1,448.

A second speaker, 4 Purple Heart Army Vet, Mike White, reminded the crowd that Vietnam was not a conflict. "When we start shooting each other," he said, "It's a War!" He said the Vietnam Wall is a Healing Wall, and called upon the crowd of onlookers to "Remember, Educate, Honor" the Veterans of this war, especially in regards to teaching our children and grandchildren. White also reminded the crowd that the United States of America is the only country to send soldiers to die for another country's freedom.

A flag folding ceremony, a 21 Gun Salute, and playing of the taps officially opened up the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. At noon, the Rotary Park was officially renamed the Veterans Memorial Park, which holds the city's stone memorials to Veterans- all branches, all wars. Bricks in front of each memorial stone ( Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force) list the names of many individuals who served from Orange City, purchased by loved ones and friends. A city wide sponsored picnic with burgers, hot dogs, and drinks, completed the festivities.

Source: " On the Wall, A Little Rain Must Fall" by William Covert. The Daytona Beach News Journal June 29, 2007