Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall touches hearts in Greene
Observer-Reporter
Veteran Rich Dolan of Clarksville spends a quiet moment honoring a friend with whom he served at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in this file photo from 2017, when the exhibit came to Greene County Fairgrounds.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Tom Waters of Waynesburg makes an impression of a friends name during Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Donnie Martin, Vietnam Veteran & Purple Heart Recipient speaks during Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter During the opening ceremony from the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Veteran Rich Weaver of Waynesburg looks at the name of a friend at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Rev. Donald Wilson and his wife Debra of Waynesburg look up a friend at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Bob Willison of Pittsburgh laysdown a flower for his friend Dennis Andrews at the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall opening ceremony at the Greene County Fairgrounds on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
WAYNESBURG – Donny Keller, of Waynesburg, and Calvin Cox, of Carmichaels, learned Wednesday how difficult it is to ride a motorcycle on a thruway, with a constant stream of tears in their eyes.
The U.S. Army veterans, along with 300 other bikers, escorted the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall from Morgantown, W.Va., to the Greene County Fairgrounds.
“I was on my motorcycle and tears were just pouring down my face,” Keller recalled Thursday.
Cox and Keller, who both served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, said that while they escorted the wall, they saw a veteran in his 80s standing at attention along Interstate 79 near the Pennsylvania Welcome Center, saluting the wall as it passed.
“I got teary-eyed when they brought out the wall,” Cox said. “There was a lump in my throat. I got a lot of friends out there on that wall. I’m hoping it will heal a lot of broken hearts.”
Hundreds from all over Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia crowded around the wall and behind the grandstand Thursday for the 6 p.m. opening ceremony.
The wall, which is based in Brevard County, Fla., was erected Wednesday afternoon and opened to the public Thursday morning. A “steady flow of people,” including buses of students from multiple school districts, came through Thursday to see the wall, which is open 24 hours through Sunday night, said Connie Hart, a member of Greene County Salute to Veterans Committee.
Rick Black, leader of the committee, started the process of bringing the wall to Greene County in 2015. When people started pouring in for the opening ceremony, Black knew his work had paid off.
“I feel there will be a bigger flow of people because of the stance that the NFL players took and because of the pride that the people of Greene County and the tri-state area have,” Black said.
All day volunteers, including Cindy Foor, of Waynesburg, offered help in locating names on the wall for people.
“I think a lot of them are people who were in the military and they’re looking for friends on there,” Foor said.
Keller, a Purple Heart recipient, said he came within 20 feet of the wall, but couldn’t get closer.
“I enlisted,” he said. “I was going to be drafted right out of high school anyway. I didn’t acknowledge that I was a Vietnam Veteran for years.”
Keller said he’s been to the underground Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. nine times.
“But I’ve never been able to go down through it,” he said. “I start to get down there, then I get choked up, I can’t breathe, and I have to get out.”
Don Martin, of Morris Township, Washington County, gave a speech about the wall, and how it effects veterans.
“That’s what this thing’s all about – to heal the hurt,” he said.
Martin, a Purple Heart recipient, served in the army from 1969 to 1971.
“I saw so many cases of soldiers risking their lives for other,” he said. “I’ve heard stories of people spitting on soldiers as they returned home. Nobody spit on me, but I think that’s because I’m from here and this community.”
The ceremony began with American-themed music from Heaven Bound Ministries, followed by the posting of colors, National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance. Waynesburg elementary students performed a folding of the flag demonstration.
At the end of the service, Taps was played, and service men and women throughout the crowd of hundreds, saluted the memory of their fallen comrades.
“On behalf of all veterans of all wars, I thank you for remembering,” Martin said in his closing remarks.
The wall will remain open today, followed by a special 1 p.m. service Saturday to recognize the Greene County names on the wall. A Warrior’s Rock concert will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, with songs that veterans relied on while they were overseas. The closing ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, before the wall is taken down.