'Moving Wall' Replica Of Vietnam Memorial Draws Thousands Of Attendees

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — By the time closing ceremonies were held this morning at the County College of Morris, nearly 5,000 residents of Morris County and beyond had visited "The Moving Wall" Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., was set up at the County College of Morris in Randolph and is half the size of the one in D.C. It's one of two traveling versions that have navigated the United States since 1984.

"The Moving Wall" drew local attention from the moment it arrived on Thursday, July 7, escorted by a motorcycle motorcade. The Randolph VFW Post 7333 sponsored the event, and ceremonies were held Sunday to thank supporters and volunteers who helped make the five-day event a success.

The ceremony concluded with tributes to all Vietnam veterans and military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

“So here we are today, we want to say God Bless you, we love you, we will never forget you,” said William Menzel, a Vietnam veteran and project leader for VFW Post 7333, at the close of Sunday's ceremony.

The VFW Post 7333 displayed a register in which nearly 5,000 visitors signed their names as they entered The Moving Wall grounds, though the number could have been higher because admission was free and many did not sign the ledger.

Several ceremonies were held over the weekend, including the reading of proclamations honoring the visiting memorial by federal, state, county and local officials.

On Saturday, members of the New Jersey State Police flew over The Moving Wall with a helicopter as dozens of veteran organizations and government agencies presented wreaths to honor The Moving Wall and veterans.

“We are honored to have been asked to host The Moving Wall at CCM to recognize all veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to teach the next generation about the impact and lessons learned as a result of this time in our nation’s history,” said Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, president of CCM.

Visitors sought out the names of loved ones who had died in the conflict, many of whom made "rubbings" with crayons and paper, while others left mementos on the wall. The artifacts have been donated to the VFW Post 7333.

The Moving Wall was brought to Morris County entirely through the generosity of donors, officials said.

When Vietnam veteran John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., he felt its power and vowed to share that experience with those who might not be able to visit it.

The Moving Wall was built by Devitt, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver and other Vietnam veteran volunteers. It has now been traveling across the country for over 30 years.