It will be a time for remembering and a time for healing. And for Vietnam Veterans, this is their time. The arrival of the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Wall will arrive in Coweta County in mid-October and will be on display at the fairgrounds.
Coweta Commission of Veterans Affairs (CCVA) representative Malcolm Jackson at the Aug. 9 meeting of the Coweta County TEA Party Patriots gave a preview of the week-long events that will accompany the arrival and display of the wall.
The Traveling Wall is a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall located in Washington, D.C. and is expected to draw visitors from all over the Southeast, said TEA Party representative Lee Norman. The Traveling Wall spans 250 feet in length and has visited more than 300 cities and towns since it was unveiled on Veterans Day in 1996.
“I believe this will be a fantastic week,” Jackson told the audience, then citing the personal significance of the traveling wall in the lives of so many. “We believe it is truly a wall that heals and helps Vietnam veterans deal with things that have been bottled up for years. At the fairgrounds in October with the wall here, ‘This is their time,’ and that is the theme of the week.”
Jackson noted the mix of public reactions to Vietnam veterans when they returned home, reactions that ran the gamut from supportive to condemning, even assaultive.
“Our troops coming home didn’t get a heroes welcome. Our citizens never really gave them the welcome they deserved,” Jackson said, noting the realization that lingers still today with some veterans and the lack of understanding that fostered the condemnation that existed so long ago. “Politicians start wars. Soldiers end wars.”
The week-long events starting Oct. 16 and running through Oct. 23 will begin with a one-man Broadway show entitled “The Things They Carried,” at The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts. All the week’s events are free of charge, with expenses covered by donations.
On Oct. 18, likely around noon, The Wall will arrive in downtown Newnan as part of a caravan that will end at the county fairgrounds. The caravan will be escorted by 200-300 motorcycles and be welcomed by school students.
Also on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. a movie about the Huey helicopter entitled “In the Shadow of the Blade” and an accompanying personal presentation by Capt. Donna Rowe (U.S. Army-Ret.) will be presented at The Centre.
The Wall That Heals will be available for viewing at the fairgrounds beginning Thursday, Oct. 20 with a 9 a.m. opening ceremony through Sunday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. The wall will be open around the clock and staffed by volunteers. A candlelight vigil ceremony will be held each day at 8 p.m. and will include an invocation by a Vietnam era chaplain and bagpipe music.
Also at the fairgrounds, Oct. 22 will include a muster displaying equipment and memorabilia and a local author’s book signing.
The Wall That Heals ceremony for families will be held Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. to honor the 21 Coweta County veterans killed in action in Vietnam. The ceremony will recognize the 132nd Helicopter Unit that was adopted by Newnan in 1968 just prior to deployment to Vietnam.
And finally on Oct. 23, the closing ceremony will be held at 5 p.m.
Jackson said the week-long series of events are being funded through donations, adding that continued donations would be appreciated. Those interested in making a donation for the events are asked to contact Malcolm Jackson at mrjackson@numail.com or 404-285-9209 or Joe Brooks at 770-253-2060 or joehbrooks@gmail.com
Checks can be payable to the Coweta Commission for Veterans Affairs and sent to Joe Brooks at 23 Stone Moss Drive, Newnan, GA 30265.
Those interested in assisting as a volunteer are asked to contact NewnanWall@gmail.com or call 678-948-8387.
For additional information visit cowetacova.org or on Facebook at ccvaNewnan.
