Moving Wall-Vietnam Memorial coming to Douglas in April

Douglas has been chosen to host the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial "Moving Wall" this spring.

The traveling exhibit will be on display April 9 to 17, 2005.

"The prurpose of this once-in-a-lifetikme event is to share with our community and surrounding area a most extraordinary experince; to honor our servicemen and women who have served and who are serving our country; and to provide an educational opportunity for our youth," said Mitch Lindemann of the committee bringing the exhibit here.

The "Moving Wall" is the original and only replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C., which was constructed in 1983. "The "Moving Wall" is one-half size of the original. The replica is 252 feet long and six feet high.

The committee is responsible for the costs of bringing the memorial to Douglas. A committee comprised of Ginny Jordan, Don Jordan and Lindemann are seeking to raise $4,000 plus expenses such as insurance and framing materials to build a secure structure for the panels.

"Our immediate goal is to raise $1,500." Lindemann said.

The group has opened a donation account at Southeastern Arizona Federal Credit Union for the event.

For more information or to make a donation, please call, 364-7605.

The memorial

The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial was conceived by Jan Scruggs. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., was incorporated on April 27, 1979 in Washington, D.C., by a group of Vietnam veterans: Jan Scruggs, President of VVMF; Robert Doubek, Project Director and later as Executive Director; John Wheeler, Chairman of the Board.

They lobbied Congress for a two-acre plot of land in Constitution Gardens. Significant support came from Senator Charles Mathias, Jr., of Maryland and Senator John Warner of Virginia. On July 1, 1980 President Jimmy Carter signed the legislation to provide a site in Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln Memorial. It was a three and a half year task to build the Memorial and to orchestrate a celebration, under the direction of Sandie Fauriol, to salute those who served in Vietnam.

The Memorial wall was designed by Maya Ying Lin and was dedicated on November 13, 1982. The sculpture created by Frederick Hart called "The Three Servicemen" was unveiled on November 8, 1984. In 1986 Vietnam nurse Diane Evans began the task of adding a statue to the site, recognizing the women who served in Vietnam. The statue, sculpted by Glenna Goodacre, was dedicated on November 11, 1992.

Mobile Wall

The concept of building The Moving Wall grew out of discussions by John Devitt, Gerry Haver and Norris Shears. Vietnam veterans from California, concerned with what they might possibly do to somehow "keep alive" and share the power and good that Devitt had experienced while attending the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

At first it was decided to build a replica and display it on the West Coast, so that people who lived so far from the Capitol might have a chance to experience the Wall. While in Washington, D.C., in February 1983, Devitt was explaining his project to several other veterans he had just met. One exclaimed, "That a great idea! Is this going to be portable?" Trying to avoid any negatives around his project, John simply nodded and replied, "Yeah, it's going to be portable."

Construction

Construction began in February 1983 after experimenting with various methods of replicating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Out of several methods tried, Devitt decided silk-screening was the best way to replicate the names, making each name as legible as it is on the Memorial in Washington. The actual construction was done by Devitt, Gerry Haver and Norris Shears. When they began, Devitt was confident they would complete the project in two weeks.

The Moving Wall was actually completed in October 1984, having taken nearly two years rather than the two weeks Devitt had hoped for.

On October 11, 1984 the last panel was silk-screened, mounted on its frame while the ink was still wet and loaded into its crate.

On October 15, just four days later, The Moving Wall was erected for the first time in Tyler, Texas. Carl McClung, A Vietnam veteran in Tyler, had heard about The Moving Wall seven months before and had contacted Devitt about scheduling a date. The display in Tyler coincided with the East Texas Rose Festival.

The Moving Wall is made of aluminum panels, having a surface painted with a two-part polyurethane gloss black which gives a mirror-like finish, mounted to angular aluminum frames. The original structure was made of black Plexiglas panels mounted to plywood and lumber frames. The original structure toured for almost three years before it was decided to replace the structure because of so much weathering. The aluminum structure is supported from the back by 74 steel square tubular braces.

WHO PAID FOR THE MOVING WALL?

The Moving Wall was paid for, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, from contributions made by the public.

To get the project started without delay, Devitt and Haver pooled their own personal funds, which totaled barely over $2,500. Under normal circumstances, it would not have been enough cash to begin a project of this magnitude with any hope of success.

However, Devitt was convinced this was not a "normal" project. With a lot of leg-work, Devitt and Haver found several trusting and supportive individuals and companies who helped out by granting these two strangers credit based on their presentation and promise to make good on any debts, even if they had to pay on their own in the end.

This year's tour of The Moving Wall is dedicated in memory of co-founder Gerry Haver who died November 9, 2000.