The local Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) chapter will host the veterans reunion from June 10 to 14, and the group is teaming up with Cruise-in For Christ to bring the wall, which is a traveling smaller-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington, D.C.
The wall will arrive on Wednesday between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the location for the reunion — Bassett Furniture Industries factory on Sheep Farm Road off of the Park Drive exit of Interstate 74.
According to Dan Hilton, a VVA organizer for the reunion, hundreds of motorcyclists will escort the wall from Statesville to Mount Airy on Wednesday. Any cyclists that want to participate must be at the parking lot of Sue’s Restaurant in Dobson before 9 a.m. on Wednesday and must coordinate with James Dawson.
Once the wall arrives at the reunion site, the cyclists will work to assemble and erect the nearly 300-foot-long memorial on a frame that has been constructed by Dusty Lowes. The wall will remain at the reunion site throughout the five-day event.
Clay Honeycutt with Cruise-in For Christ saw the traveling wall a few years ago when it was in Dayton, Ohio. He said a few months ago, “If you ever see a wall like this, you’ll never forget it ... There’s a lot of people here that would never get to see the memorial in Washington, so we’re bringing it to them.”
The Veterans Reunion will officially kick-off on Thursday at 11 a.m. with an opening ceremony. Hilton said local leaders have been asked to speak for the ceremony.
The reunion grounds will be open each day, Thursday through Monday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Located at the site will be helicopter displays, and Hilton said they may even be able to get a helicopter to take people on rides. Cathy Benfield will be present to display photographs of Vietnam. There will be games set up for children, and Hilton said all children will be given prizes. There will also be food available for purchase at the event.
“All kinds of different things will be going on,” said Hilton.
Music will be a big part of the event. Throughout the week, local performers and singers from Nashville will perform on a stage at the reunion. In between bands, Hilton said DJs will be playing music over the speakers.
Each day there also will be a cruise-in to the memorial wall, where classic cars can drive into the event. On Saturday, a car show and poker run will take place. There will be registration fees for the car show and poker run.
There is no admission fee to get into the reunion, but donations will be accepted. Hilton said, “The only things people will have to pay for is food and drink.”
Hilton encourages veterans and non-veterans alike to attend the event. He said, “We want to honor everyone.”
Veterans of all wars will be recognized at the reunion. Hilton said, “We’re hoping that will spawn the military branches to hold their own reunions.”
Hilton said the VVA especially wanted to get a chance to thank the veterans of conflicts such as World War II before they all died.
Thousands of people are expected by Hilton to attend the reunion over the five-day period, possibly even up to 35,000 people.
For more information about the reunion, call 356-2085 before Wednesday.
Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.
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