Vietnam Memorial Wall Replica Comes to Fairlawn
The traveling version of the memorial gives people the chance to honor the service of Vietnam veterans, even if they can't get to the full-size monument in Washington D.C.
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It came in pieces, accompanied by the rolling thunder of a motorcycle escort made up of fathers and loved ones, of brothers-in-arms.
A replica of the Vietnam Memorial wall arrived in Fairlawn Tuesday (Aug. 16). A group of about 50 volunteers gathered at the Catavolos Funeral Home before lunch time to construct the miniature version of the monument, which will be displayed in the clearing between the funeral home and Rose Hill Cemetery from Friday (Aug. 19) through Sunday (Aug. 22).
"We had about 45 people committed from the Marine guard," Catavolos said, "They are veterans from the Vietnam era, who will work along with some young Marines and active duty recruits."
The Dignity Memorial Wall is a 3/4 scale model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. inscribed with the 58,000-plus Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam.
The traveling monument is owned by the Dignity Memorial Network, of which the funeral home and the cemetery are members.
Like the original wall, the Fairlawn display will have a purple heart buried at its foundation. The medal is the purple heart awarded to Marine Gunnery Sgt. Robert L Gilbert II, of Richfield, who died March 16, 2010 on his 28th birthday of wounds suffered in Afghanistan.
A 2000 Revere High School graduate, Sgt. Gilbert was on his fifth tour of duty. His medal was placed in the foundation at Fairlawn Tuesday by his father, Richfield Police officer Robert Gilbert Sr.
Proceeds from the raffle of a Harley Davison motorcycle, T-shirt sales and donations from local businesses will benefit Fisher House and Crossroads Hospice.
Admission to the wall is free. The display is open 24 hours a day.
In This article
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Catavalos Funeral Home
3653 W Market St, Fairlawn, OH -
Revere High School
3420 Everett Rd., Richfield, OH
T.J. Powell
9:05 pm on Saturday, August 20, 2011
I posted photos at http://tjpowell.net/2011/08/traveling-vietnam-veterans-memorial-akron-ohio/
bob lang
4:10 pm on Tuesday, August 23, 2011
As a Vietman-era veteran I applaud the fine work done by the Dignity Wall volunteers and Catavolos Funeral home in helping us remember those who died serving this country, but I am also very disappointed in the inacurrate coverage of this event. Fairlawn may have been instrumental in facilitating this event but the Vietnam Memorial was erected in Bath Township. I can understand the confusion because Fairlawn almost surrounds the site but what I don't understand is the complete lack of coverage of the efforts of Bath Township. Our police and fire departments covered the event, one of our trustees spoke at the event, and our local high school band marched at the event. Just once I would like Bath to get some recognition. After all this is the Fairlawn-Bath Patch.
Jennette Cox
9:25 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Bath Police chief was at the event every day directing traffic and helping. I saw Akron Police and Fairlawn Police. I think it's confusing where the property lines cross there. I grew up in Bath, went to Revere, and I was proud of all community outreach... It felt like Fairlawn, was placed in Bath, had motorcycles and riders from Liberty Harley in Akron, and all over join in. There was support from businesses outside of Fairlawn and Bath who didn't receive any recognition at all, other than a sign... I don't feel like Bath was slighted... in fact the opposite. The band was wonderful, the venue couldn't have been more beautiful, the hosts were extremely welcoming... Bath or Fairlawn... what difference does it make? It was about the Vietnam Veterans this time around.
Jennette Cox
9:34 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
OH! And the Sheriff's Mounted riders... Beautiful horses - so many people were involved last week!
Kathy B
12:14 pm on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Jennette Cox is one of those special people that has a way with her camera then putting everything together with words and song. I have been blessed with seeing her other works online.
Each time Jennette take something on it is with her whole self spending hours until she feels it is her best and worthy of sharing with others. She will takes hundreds of photos and may only use a dozen.
I feel that her open letter to her son, Andrew, along with the pictures from the traveling Viet Nam Memorial Wall was one of her best works.
beebee1