"Moving Wall" Memorial Coming To Shelbyville
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
“MOVING WALL” MEMORIAL COMING TO SHELBYVLLE
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. –The Moving Wall, the half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to be in Shelbyville from October 30-November 3, 2008. It will be open to the public at Riverwalk Park behind the Fly Building, home of the Shelbyville-Bedford County History Museum.
In 1982 John Devitt, a former helicopter door gunner and Army veteran, visited Washington, DC for the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to participate in the National Salute to Vietnam Veterans. This visit and experience changed Devitt's life and led to the creation of the "Moving Wall," which has since moved millions of people.
The Moving Wall was first displayed in 1984 in Texas as part of the Tyler Rose Festival. "We hadn't even put up the fifth panel when a Gold Star Mother placed a beautifully decorated candle at the base of the panel where her son's name was inscribed," Devitt recalls. Just like the Wall in Washington, people began to leave mementoes, so many, in fact, that Devitt decided to have them shipped to the Moving Wall's off season home in San Jose, CA. He hopes to build a museum to display the items, but for now concentrates on making sure the Moving Wall travels to as many cities as possible.
The wall contains the names of the 58,253 persons who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during the Vietnam era, including 12 from Bedford County.
The local effort to bring the Moving Wall to Shelbyville is spearheaded by Gene Williams of the Shelbyville-Bedford County History Museum. Williams and the museum are accepting donations to help defray the costs of bringing the memorial to Shelbyville. The Celebration® recently made a donation to the effort. “These are the type of community projects we’re so very proud to be part of,” said Celebration Director Henry Hulan, III. “Having the Moving Wall in our town is an honor and will have great meaning to all our citizens.
For more information or to make donations, contact Williams at 931-684-8359. For more information on the wall itself, log on to www.themovingwall.org.
More Stories |
-
In 2021, the walking horse industry has experienced a generally successful year for our show horse including an increased number of horse shows and sustained entry numbers at the 2021 Celebration. As we enter into the final quarter of the year, industry organizations and leadership are turning their attention toward the 2022 year.
Read More
-
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Lined With Cash. He passed this afternoon of an apparent cardiac arrest. This 25-year-old son of WGC Coin's Hard Cash out of the great Gen's Silver Lining has sired currently 1238 offspring who hold close to 400 World Titles.
Read More
-
The Report has recently learned of the passing of long time walking horse owner, Chester Marbry. A full obituary will he posted as it becomes available. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Marbry family during this time.
Read More
-
The Walking Horse Owners Association would like to announce that WHOA will sponsor the “Southern Belle Walking Horse Show” scheduled for March 10-12, 2022. The event will be held at the Georgia Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, Georgia 30013.
Read More
-
Read More
-
Joel Roper “Huck” Moss, Jr., husband of Peggy Ann Moss for 56 years, died November 17, 2021, after an extended illness. Mr. Moss was born on April 8, 1942, to the late Joel Roper “Bubba” Moss, Sr., and Margaret Gardner Moss.
Read More
-
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association President, Jack Heffington, announced the hiring of Thomas Derickson as the Chief Financial Officer of Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association, effective November 17, 2021.
Read More
-
Mike and Chris Williamson with Mikey’s Motors recently donated a utility cart to The Celebration for use on the showgrounds. The cart, which is street legal and enclosed with heat and air will be utilized by Celebration staff in a number of ways throughout the course of the year.
Read More
-
The Walking Horse Trainers' Association is excited to announce that they have launched electronic voting for this year's Horse of the Year awards. With this voting, it is their hope to have made the process easier for trainers and that as a result there will be a greater participation in the voting process...
Read More
-
The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) recently announced that Executive Director Margo Urad would end her term as Executive Director on December 6, 2021 and assume a new role as Director of Programs and Horse Show Development...
Read More
|