Traveling Vietnam Wall Makes Return Visit To Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The Traveling Vietnam Wall makes a fourth visit to Putnam County this month, on display for four days culminating in a closing ceremony on Gold Star Mothers Day.

The Wall will be open for visits 24 hours a day at Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park from noon Sept. 22 until 3 p.m. Sept. 25.

The Traveling Wall is an 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

“This is a great educational opportunity,” County Executive MaryEllen Odell said. “Not only can students see a version of the Vietnam Wall without having to go to D.C., but they will have the chance to meet with local veterans from Putnam County who may have served in the war. It’s a good example to show the students how national history is also local history.”

In 2015, the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council, in cooperation with Putnam County Government, hosted it to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war.

This visit will include The American Traveling Tribute, a display that features every war America has been involved in from the Revolutionary War right up to today, and a half-size replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The visit is a collaboration between the Putnam County Veterans Service Agency and the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council. The PCJVC is a local non-profit Veterans Service Organization.

“We believe that this is an excellent educational and community service opportunity,” Veterans Service Agency Director Karl Rohde wrote in a letter to school officials throughout the region. “We know it’s early in the school year, but It is our hope that you can present the students at your school with this gift.”

A motorcycle convoy will meet at the rest area on northbound I-684 in Southeast at 3 p.m. on Sept. 21 and escort The Traveling Wall to the Putnam County Veterans Memorial Park. Motorcycle riders are encouraged to join.

Buses will be available to transport visitors round trip from Putnam Plaza and the Putnam County Office Building to the park to see the wall. The buses will run from the Tops Store at Putnam Plaza every hour on the hour from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 22-24. They will stop at the county office building 10 minutes after the hour.

The closing ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 25, which is Gold Star Mother’s Day, and will feature a concert by The Hudson Valley Council Band.