Moving Wall Moves All

By Frank Bradley
Sentinel Writer

An estimated 6,500 people turned out to visit the” Moving Wall” at Konehete Park in Murphy this past week. The Moving Wall, of which there are two in the United States, is a scaled-down replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall contains the names of American armed service men and women who perished or are still missing from the eight-year-long Vietnam War, the longest American war since the American Revolution.
It contains more than 58,200 names engraved on black marble upright plates that are arranged in a wide V. The names are engraved on this series of plates in chronological order in which these men and women were killed or reported missing. Twelve of those killed in action were from Cherokee County as well as two others from Clay and Graham counties.
The local chapter of the U.S. Marine Corps League (Post 1011) made arrangements to bring the wall to western North Carolina and was its prime sponsor, although dozens of other businesses and individuals contributed to the effort. The Wall was in place on Thursday of last week and was available for viewing until it was dismantled at noon on Monday.
On Saturday, there was an extended ceremony, which included music, speakers and placement of wreaths at the memorial from veterans of several wars.
Speaking to perhaps a thousand folks, many under umbrellas to protect them from the light rain, North Carolina state senator John Snow said, “We are here to remember by seeing and experiencing this wall those young Americans who gave their life in defense of our country.” He spoke of the controversy surrounding the war and the unwelcome return of many Vietnamese War veterans. He said there had been 1,302 servicemen killed in the Vietnam War and 1,600 that had died as a result of the war. He also reported that there are some 265,000 Vietnam War veterans living in North Carolina.

“It is never too late to welcome our Vietnam Veterans,” he said. “Welcome home.”
Other speakers at the event were Murphy Mayor Bill Hughes, N.C. State Representative Roger West, and Sandy Zimmerman, an administrative assistant for U.S. Congressman Heath Shuler. Several “gold star mothers,” who had lost sons in the war, were recognized and presented with a single red rose and a plaque honoring their son. The Andrews Chorus performed along with a band and bagpipe player that played martial music.