For Jamie Morrow, seeing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., was pretty emotional.
"The magnitude of the names is hard to conceive. We take for granted the number of lives that were lost," she said.
John Devitt felt those same emotions when attending the 1982 dedication in Washington, also seeing the "positive power" the wall had as well.
DeVitt and other Vietnam veterans, including Norris Shears and Gerry Haver, decided to build a half-replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial called The Moving Wall, allowing Americans who may not be able to visit Washington, D.C. to see this memorial closer to home.
According to The Moving Wall's website, Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. held its first display in October 1984 in Tyler, Texas, and it now travels throughout the United States from April through November, spending about a week at a time at each location.
Morrow and fellow Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce members are excited to have The Moving Wall come for the first time to the Versailles City Park from Oct. 5-9 during the annual Versailles Olde Tyme Apple Festival.
Morrow, chairman of the committee to bring The Moving Wall to Versailles, said the chamber made initial plans more than a year ago to bring The Moving Wall exhibit to their community. The chamber first filed an application with the Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. Once they met all the criteria, that organization made confirmation they would bring The Moving Wall this fall during the Morgan County seat's award-winning community festival.
"Hosting The Moving Wall is not free. We have done a lot of fundraising and still are taking last-minute contributions to have this exhibit on display in Versailles," Morrow said, noting it has taken about $8,000 to $10,000 to have the exhibit properly displayed, secured and accessible for visitors. "It has taken a tremendous community effort to make sure everything has been done. Our community has just been wonderful to step up to help any way they can."
Morrow said a lot of Versailles and area businesses have donated supplies and time, including lumber to build platforms, construction labor, hospitality tents for 75 to 100 volunteers and much more. Many local organizations have assisted, including the community's local Patriot Guard and Noble Eagles, who will provide security, the Lions Club assisting in electrical accessibility at The Moving Wall exhibit, local fire departments, police departments and the sheriff's department, to name a few.
"This is completely 100 percent volunteer-ran," Morrow said. "They are doing it because they want to and want to help bring this exhibit to our community."
Morrow said an opening ceremony is scheduled for The Moving Wall exhibit at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at the city park, and the public is invited to this free event. The history club at Versailles High School will conduct an assembly the morning of the opening ceremony. Morrow said 18 students have learned about the Vietnam War and will help share what they have learned with those at the assembly and the opening ceremony, as well as pay tribute.
Local American Legion and VFW posts, State Rep. David Wood, a National Guardsman and Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Dunklee, who is also a Guardsman, will be a part of the opening ceremony.
"We are also supposed to have a Black Hawk helicopter on display," she added.
Morrow said The Moving Wall will then officially open to the community at 3 p.m. to the public, remaining open 24 hours a day and manned with security and volunteers until it closes at about noon Monday, Oct. 9.
While guests visit the free memorial exhibit, they can view names, get rubbings of names of loved ones (with a special crayon and paper provided) and search for names with the help for phone app assistance and iPads available on site. Morrow said volunteers will help guests search for names utilizing all these resources.
At 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, the public is also welcome to a twilight ceremony, where paper lanterns will be lifted up into the sky in commemoration of Vietnam and all veterans who have died in battle.
From volunteers to visitors, The Moving Wall will touch many lives, and Morrow, along with everyone involved in bringing this to Versailles, is honored to have this nationally touring exhibit come back to Mid-Missouri.
"So many Vietnam veterans did not get the respect and honor they deserved. Our community wants them to know they will never be forgotten and how much we appreciate them," she said.
Volunteers and contributions are still needed. For more information, contact the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce at 573-378-4401. For more information about The Moving Wall, visit TheMovingWall.org or VersaillesAppleFestival.com.