The half-size replica of the National Vietnam Memorial Wall will be on display Oct. 20-24 in Moriarty. Courtesy photo

NMDVS News:

• Half-Size Replica of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to Stop in Moriarty

The New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services has announced that the public is invited to visit The Moving Wall as it makes a four-day stop Oct. 20-24 in Moriarty at Civic Park just south of the city’s municipal offices at 202 Broadway. There will be a special Welcome Ceremony at 10 a.m. Oct. 21.

The Moving Wall is a traveling half-sized replica of the National Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., which honors the service of Americans in the Vietnam War. As with the National Wall, the highlight of the Moving Wall is the listing of the names of 58,200 Americans killed in combat or still listed as Missing in Action—including 398 New Mexicans who lost their lives, and 12 who are officially missing.

The Moving Wall, which arrives a day earlier, will be on public display 24-hours a day until 3 p.m. Oct. 24. There is no admission charge to view the display. But there are restrictions and guidelines in place for those wishing to visit this special monument: All mobile devices must be set to “silent,” no pets, no smoking, no music and no unattended children are allowed on the premises of The Wall display.

The idea of a traveling wall was created by Vietnam War veterans John Devitt and Gerry Haver after they attended the 1982 dedication of the National Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The two vowed to come up with a way to somehow share the powerfully moving experience they felt in the presence of The Wall with those who do not have the opportunity to travel to our nation’s capital.

They enlisted the help of three artists – also Vietnam War veterans – to build a half-size replica of The Wall. The first model was finished in October of 1984. A second replica was built shortly after. The two traveling monuments now tour the country every year from April to October. The Wall making the stop in Moriarty will be arriving from Santa Barbara, Calif., and will head to Chinle, Ariz., after its New Mexico visit. As of the beginning of this year, The Moving Wall has been hosted by 1,362 communities.

Event organizers are looking for various supplies and monetary donations to help facilitate the visit – and for volunteers to help with set up/take down of The Wall or to help escort visitors needing on-site assistance. For more information, contact Pastor Bob Ludwig of Sunset Ministries at 505.803.9657 or sunsetministries@yahoo.com.