THURSDAY, JUNE 17 - SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2010
WEST HARTFORD TOWN HALL
50 SOUTH MAIN STREET

The Moving Wall, the half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display 24 hours a day on the front lawn of West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, from Thursday, June 17 through Sunday, June 20, 2010.

The memorial is dedicated to the 2.7 million men and women who served in the Vietnam War and especially to the 58,253 who gave their lives or who remain missing.

The names are silk-screened on the aluminum panels that stretch 252.83 feet, which is slightly longer than half the length of the Memorial in Washington, D.C. 

An opening ceremony is planned for Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 7 PM.  Participants include Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, Mayor Scott Slifka, and The Moving Wall chairperson John Eselunas. Color guards from all the branches of service will be present. Pastor Dana Lee Hallenbeck will give the benediction. The national anthem will be sung by Sheri Ziccardi of the Hartt School of Music.

Three wreaths will be presented: one for those who died during the war, one for those who are missing in action, and one for all who served in Vietnam. The names of the 18 residents killed from West Hartford will be read and remembered. The ceremony will close with "Amazing Grace" performed on the bag pipes by Patrick Whalen.

In addition, a candlelight vigil will be held on Saturday, June 19 at 8:45 PM in which the names of all 612 Connecticut residents killed during Vietnam War will be read.

On Sunday, June 20, at 7:00 PM, a POW/MIA ceremony led by the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Association will close the four-day event.

The Moving Wall will be open 24 hours a day for the four days. Everyone is welcome to experience this breathtaking memorial.
For more information, call Renée McCue at (860) 561-7521 or email renee@westhartford.org.