Vietnam War Moving Wall Headed To Paris
By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Vietnam War Moving Wall will be in Paris over Labor Day weekend, from August 31-September 4, and Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Director Mark Johnson said, “We’re so proud to have the Moving Wall come to our community.”
The Moving Wall is the half-size replica of the Washington, D.C., Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for over 30 years. The Moving Wall was in our area in 2013, at Camden, and it drew huge crowds.
Johnson said, “It’s so appropriate that the Wall should come to Paris in this year, with the 100th anniversary of our National Guard unit and other military anniversaries. It’s an important year in the nation’s military history and in our military history. It’s special and exciting for us.”
The Chamber began planning for the event years ago, making the request with the Moving Wall organizers that the local community be placed on the schedule.
The Moving Wall will be placed at the Eiffel Tower Park, in the large field between the swimming pool and Memorial Park Cemetery. “It’s a perfect location for it,” Johnson said. “There will be plenty of solitude there. It’s removed from most of the activities of the park. It’s handicapped accessible. There is plenty of parking there.”
The Moving Wall must be staffed 24 hours a day for all five days and local veterans’ groups will be volunteering for that.
A public ceremony will open the Moving Wall August 31 and details will be announced later, Johnson said.
According to the Moving Wall schedule, it will be on display in Savannah, Tenn., September 7-11.
Photo: Bagpiper Ed Smith of Paris performed at the opening ceremonies when the Moving Wall was in Camden in 2013. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
