Earlier this month, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located in Washington D.C., was on display in Port Washington.  The replica is one of two “Moving Walls,” and it is half the size of the original monument.  It had a temporary home at the North Hempstead Beach Park, where it could be viewed and visited 24 hours a day from Oct. 15-17.

The goal of the mobile monument is to give those who may not be able to travel to Washington, D.C. a chance to pay tribute to those lost in the Vietnam War, including 66 who were Town of North Hempstead residents.  The wall was designed and built by John Devitt, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers and features the names of the 58,228 Americans who passed away or went missing during the war.

The two “Moving Walls” have been touring the country for 37 years, beginning in Oct. 1984, and have continued their journey each successive year from Apr to Nov.  They have visited all 50 states and are set to stop in about 30 communities this season alone, typically spending a week or weekend at each site.  Next, the walls will be traveling to Kansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Michigan.  

“I was so impressed that this moving memorial made its way to our town.  It was incredible how this memorial brought the community together to remember Vietnam Veterans,” said senior Kayla Caplin.

The original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall — the one after which the “Moving Walls” are modeled — was designed by Yale University architecture student Maya Lin and dedicated on Nov. 13, 1982 in the nation’s capital.  It is made of black granite and is shaped like a large “V.”  It followed a period of time during which soldiers of the Vietnam War were mistreated upon returning home from the controversial war, unlike their veteran predecessors, who had been hailed as heroes upon return from conflict.  According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website, the Memorial Wall “is dedicated to honor the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of all who answered the call to serve during one of the most divisive wars in U.S. history.”  John Devitt, who originated the idea for the traveling replica, attended the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and wished to “share the experience” and “positive power” of the Wall with others.

At 9 a.m., on Oct. 15, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and other state and local officials held a ceremony to welcome the “Moving Wall.”

“Many of my childhood friends did not come home from Vietnam, so this wonderful traveling memorial holds special meaning in my heart,” said State Assembly member Charles Lavine at the ceremony.  “Those who fought did so with the best of intentions — despite not being fully supported by the government that sent them or by its citizens. The valor, duty, and sacrifice of those brave men and women (are) unquestioned.”

The “Moving Wall” was quite a meaningful tribute to many local veterans and provided an opportunity for Port Washington and Town of North Hempstead residents to interact with a piece of history and remember those who fought for our country.