Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Leaves Lasting Impression at Patriots Point
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Vietnam Wall memorial packed up and left town on Sunday afternoon, but its impact will linger for all who came to see it. Veterans, civilians and people of all ages came to view the wall while it was on display from Thursday, October 9 at 5 p.m. until it closed down to head to its next destination on Sunday, October 12 at 12 p.m.
The traveling tribute wall was open around the clock in The Grove at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum following the opening ceremony on Thursday, October 9 at 7 p.m. Hundreds attended that solemn event including local and state leaders, military leadership, community leaders and veterans. Medal of Honor Recipient Major General James E. Livingston gave an impassioned speech to highlight the evening's ceremony. The event concluded with a traditional gun salute by the Joint Base Charleston Honor Guard, retiring of the colors by the Washington Light Infantry Color Guard and musical selections by the US Marine Corps Band of Parris Island.
The AVTT Vietnam wall contains the names of all 58,272 names of the men and women killed during the Vietnam War. It is 80 percent scale of the actual Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. In addition to the traveling tribute wall, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum constructed a memorial to the 896 South Carolinians who died during the war. Upon that display were dog tags bearing the names of each individual who died from our state. During the opening ceremony, local boy scouts and cub scouts placed the dog tags on the memorial in honor of South Carolina’s fallen heroes.
Throughout the weekend, visitors came to see the wall and pay their respects to the American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country during the Vietnam War. Some left photos and mementoes of a beloved soldier, while others simply paused to reflect and remember fallen friends, brothers, sisters and parents. Many used a pencil to rub the names of their loved one on a piece of paper as a permanent reminder of their visit to the wall.
More than 1,000 people are estimated to have visited the AVTT Vietnam Wall while it was on display at Patriots Point. This event was offered as part of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum’s ongoing efforts to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War over the next few years.
To view photos of the wall and the opening ceremony event, see below:
