Vietnam Memorial Wall will arrive March 29

By Diane Saunders
Staff Writer

In just 10 days, a special tribute will be paid to Vietnam War veterans when the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall arrives in Safford.

The traveling wall bears the names of the 58,000 American service members who died in the Vietnam War. There is no admission charge to see the wall.

The wall to be set up in Firth Park through April 6 is the centerpiece exhibit of the Traveling Wall Foundation and American Veterans Traveling Tribute. The traveling wall is a replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., and is four-fifths the size of the original. At 370 feet, it’s longer than a football field and is made up of 35 portable panels. At its center, the traveling wall is 8 feet tall.

The exhibit includes memorial panels for each war or conflict and a tribute to the victims of 911 and those who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Buddy and Charlotte Reynolds, who were instrumental in bringing the wall to the Gila Valley, will meet the truck transporting the memorial at the Arizona/ New Mexico state line. About 2,000 motorcycle riders have been invited to escort the wall from Duncan to Safford.

A reception will be held at the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot, 755 S. 20th Ave., Safford. Safford Mayor Ron Green, Pima Mayor Tony Goodman and Graham County Supervisor Jim Palmer will speak.

After the welcoming ceremony, the wall will be taken to Firth Park, where it will be set up for public display beginning March 30. It will take five hours for 10 men to set up the exhibit.

The public may view the wall 24 hours a day. Volunteers will manage the locator computers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

“We can still use volunteers for the computers,” Charlotte Reynolds said.

Ryan Express will provide free shuttle service March 30 and April 6 from Mt. Graham Shopping Center at the corner of 20th Avenue and U.S. Highway 70.

Reynolds said people are encouraged to park their cars nearby and ride the shuttle to see the wall.

Sponsors of the event are the city of Safford, town of Thatcher, town of Pima, Graham County and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.