Honor guard: Procession of veterans, motorcycles escort Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall
CLARKSVILLE — Pearl Pearson of New Albany may not have worn the uniform, but she served the military during the Vietnam War. She’s one of the countless military wives that stayed behind while her husband fought in Southeast Asia, thousands of miles from home. She raised her three daughters and took care of the family finances while her husband was away.
“We’d get on the ground, put our knees down and put our heads down and pray beside the bed that their daddy and all the men and women would get back safe from the war,” Pearson recalled.
On Wednesday, Pearson was among the throng of supporters stationed along Veterans Parkway in Clarksville as an estimated 1,000 motorcycles and other vehicles escorted the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall to the grounds outside of the Clarksville Municipal Building.
The Traveling Wall is an 80-percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Starting at noon today, the Wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day through Sunday.
“The purpose of this event is to give [veterans] the well-deserved welcome again as Vietnam vets,” event promoter Greg Alexander said. “This weekend’s all about them. This is their weekend, and also all the other soldiers that are fighting overseas for us to be able to do the things we’re doing here today.”
The procession that escorted the wall to Clarksville traveled from S & S Power Sports in Clarksville, through Jeffersonville, Charlestown, Sellersburg and New Albany before arriving back in Clarksville at the Veterans Parkway destination. Along the green outside of the municipal center, flags of each of the branches of the military flew, while statues of soldiers and other memorial plaques adorned the grounds. This is the first time the Traveling Wall has come to Clarksville, Police Chief Mark Palmer said.
“I think it’s historic,” Palmer said. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”
The Wall escort kicks off four days’ worth of festivities. Throughout the weekend, all 58,282 names on the wall will be read by volunteers between the official opening of the memorial at noon and the conclusion of the event Sunday.
This evening, former WHAS-TV news anchor and Vietnam veteran Gary Roedemeier and Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Mark R. Kraus will speak, followed by a military fly-over and a POW/MIA wreath ceremony.
Other speakers through the weekend include Indiana American Legion Commander Richard A. Jewel, Heather French Henry, former Army Reservist and Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan and retired Army Col. William C. Grimes.
“I think it’s very important that you come out and see this,” Pearson said. “It just gives me cold chills to think about it, and anyone that loves the United States or loves the American people that are fighting for our country, the Wall is just a wonderful, wonderful place to check out and see. ... You’re going to have some tears and some crying, and some people praying, but the Wall is just a beautiful place to come and see for everyone.”
