Vietnam Veterans Wall dates change

DESLOGE — The scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will not be coming to Desloge July 22-29. The traveling wall will instead come to Desloge Sept. 30 – Oct. 5. City Administrator Greg Camp said there was a problem with one of the traveling displays and it had to be taken off of the road for repairs.

“Two displays are used,” Camp said. “The display we had booked had suffered some damage and needed to be repaired. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute and the Traveling Wall Foundation contacted us yesterday (Thursday) and told us about the problem. They said we could either have our money back or reschedule.”     Camp said he felt at this point the city is committed to bringing the traveling wall to Desloge so the best case scenario was to reschedule. He said several dates were available, including Labor Day weekend, but ultimately the decision was made to schedule the event for the first weekend in October.

“There is so much going on here Labor Day weekend we thought it would be best to have this at a different time,” he said.

The city entered into a contract to bring the exhibit to Desloge at a cost of $9,750. Camp said the Desloge VFW plans on raising money to help pay for the expense.

The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall is an 80 percent size replica visual presentation; standing more than 8 feet tall at apex, and stretching more than 370 feet long. The Cost Of Freedom displays are nine large memorials represented in gold dog tags under glass to remember and honor all who died in service since Vietnam, including Sept. 11.

A large art display; Vietnam Remembered and a Walk of Heroes’ display also accompanies American Veterans Traveling Tribute.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at [email protected].