Article Display

Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall visits Sumter community

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Blackwell
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was dedicated to the Sumter community at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, May 24, in front of approximately 300 veterans and citizens from the local community and surrounding counties.

The traveling wall is a scale replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The traveling wall is three-fifths the size of the original. It's the length of a football field, about 300 feet.

Members of the Thunder Guard motorcycle club, as well as other motorcyclists, escorted the wall into Sumter, May 22.

After which, 50 volunteers from Shaw Air Force Base helped assemble the wall under the supervisor of the wall manager, Greg Welch.

"Over the last six years, Sumter has been trying to get the Wall here," explained retired Chief Master Sgt. Lefford Fate. "The person who's done most of the work to get that accomplished is Lynn Kennedy, chairwoman of the Sumter Iris Festival Committee."

The wall represents great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War and stands to honor those who have fallen during the controversial war.

"When folks came back from Vietnam they weren't recognized, cheered and appreciated like we are now," Fate explained. "They were spit upon, they were called baby killers. I've heard many stories of people telling me that when they came home they were told not to wear the uniform, not to tell anybody that they had served, because you wouldn't get a job, and you'd be treated differently."

The memorial wall, and subsequently the traveling wall, stand to not only pay tribute to Vietnam veterans; it also serves as a reminder of how unfairly many veterans have been treated throughout the years, in hopes that it won't happen to future generations, explained Douglas Wilson, retired U.S. Air Force pilot and guest speaker.

"So, many Vietnam vets have sworn that they will never let what happened to them happen to this generation of warriors," Fate said.

To some the wall represents a spouse, brother, cousin or uncle lost in the war; to others the wall represents the grandfather they never knew but only heard stories about growing up.

Whatever the reason, many Sumter citizens and veterans gathered to view the 58,000 plus names on the wall, and pay their respects to those who gave their lives in the name of freedom.

"I thought the ceremony was very appropriate and incorporated many different perspectives," said Col. Clay Hall, 20th Fighter Wing base commander. "It's great knowing the wall was here to pay tribute to the fallen warriors who gave their lives for our freedoms."

Following the ceremony, those visiting the wall were encouraged to look at the wall, take photos as well as get pencil rubbings of loved ones' names.