Traveling Wall

Comment by John Dilbeck on September 1, 2009 at 2:16pm

Good afternoon, Rose.

I don't know for sure, but I think it's coming sometime in October. The last I heard, they were still trying to raise $10,000 or so to pay for all that needed to be done so it could visit us. I don't know if it has been finalized.

I'll see what I can learn.

Do you know where Junaluska's Birthplace is located?

All the best,

JD

Comment by Rose M Birdwell on September 1, 2009 at 2:22pm

There is a big sign as you come in to NC from GA, but I forgot the exact dates...

And yes, its across the street from the Dickey's Lumberyard warehouse.., in someone's yard, right at the street, so it can't be missed

Comment by John Dilbeck on September 1, 2009 at 2:42pm

Good afternoon, Rose.

I did some checking and it looks like The Moving Wall is scheduled for display in Konehete Park from October 8, 2009 until October 12, 2009.

I found this on the VisitNC.com site:

"The Moving Wall" will be coming to Cherokee County and displayed at Konehete Park. Sponsored by Marine Corps League Detachment 1011. "The Moving Wall" is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than twenty (20) years. Contact Tom Valenty for more information.

I don't know who Tom Valenty is. Do you?

If I can find confirmation that this is correct, I'll add it to the Events.

All the best,

JD

Comment by John Dilbeck on September 1, 2009 at 3:03pm

Good afternoon, Rose.

I did some more searching and found the following information on the Andrews Valley Initiative website:

For Information call: Tom Valenty (828) 837-3891 Send donations to: Marine Corps League 1011 Project Moving Wall P.O.Box 1652 Murphy, NC 28906

I tried to find something on the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce site, but couldn't. (It has to be one of the hardest-to-use websites in the area.) I tried searching for "moving wall" and "vietnam" on their site but it came up empty. I tried Google (using this search: site:cherokeecountychamber.com "moving wall") and found a page with similar information.

Maybe someone who knows more about this will chime in with more information.

All the best,

JD

Comment by John Dilbeck on September 2, 2009 at 11:06am

Good morning, Rose.

OK. It looks like it's official. Dwight Otwell has an article in this week's Cherokee Scout: Honoring 58,000 Lost Lives.

There's also a picture of Tom Valenty, who seems to be in charge of organizing this.

I'll add it to the events in a couple of minutes.

Thanks for reminding us about this.

JD

Comment by Rose M Birdwell on September 2, 2009 at 12:12pm

You're welcome, John. As a military "brat", the wife of a "lifer", the mother of 4 sons who served (1 in Panama with the 101st, 1 in Desert Storm), brothers in law who served in Vietnam, and one whose name appears on the Wall, I have a profound respect for the military men and women who defend our country.

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