Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will pass through Washington County
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will pass through Washington County Wednesday as it makes its way along Interstate 70 to Frick Park in Mt. Pleasant (Westmoreland County), where it will be on display through Sunday.
The wall will be escorted by a Vietnam era helicopter (UH-1H Huey), owned by CW3 Ron Corrado (retired), a 21-year veteran of the U.S. Army and former owner of Skyward Aviation.
The helicopter will depart the Washington County Airport at about 10:45 a.m. and about 10 minutes later will fly over the Pilot Truck Stop in Bentleyville, where the memorial wall will make a stop. The display is scheduled to depart from the truck stop at approximately 11 a.m. The motorcade also will be escorted by several ground vehicles and veterans, including about 100 motorcycles.
Piloting the aircraft will be Corrado and CW5 Marian Clemens (retired), a Purple Heart recipient for heroism and bravery from Vietnam. Clemens, of Washington, also was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 31 air medals.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is a three-fifths scale of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. It stands 6 feet tall in the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end.
This will be the first time Corrado’s helicopter will accompany the traveling memorial wall.
“My main goal in life is to help veterans,” Corrado said. “It’s such a rewarding thing to see these veterans come out and to hear the stories. It’s just amazing.”