“…this memorial is for those who have died, and for us to remember them.”

– Maya Ying Lin, designer,

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

Wilton is in line for a special honor.

“The Moving Wall,” a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display in the town Aug. 2-8. The miniature monument doesn’t carry the power of the original. Few monuments do. But the motivation behind the tour – sharing the monument with people who don’t have the opportunity to go to Washington – has been achieved.

The half-sized replica has been touring the country for almost 20 years and was built by Vietnam War veterans. It includes the name of more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel killed during the war.

The organizers of the visit need volunteers to guard the memorial and to serve as guides, helping visitors find specific names on the monument. It’s a massive undertaking that will need a lot of support during The Wall’s visit. Interested volunteers can contact Shannon Smith at 778-4726.

The August visit will be the only time this year that The Moving Wall will be in Maine. It’s worth the effort that it will take to make the display successful, and it’s worth putting on the calendar so you don’t forget to check it out.