Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall
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Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
is proud to bring to northwestern Pennsylvania
The Moving Wall
A one-half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
May 1 - 5, 2008
Next to Mallory Lake and the Gazebo,
on the campus of Edinboro University
Opening Ceremony
Noon, Thursday, May 1, 2008
The public is welcome at any time to pay tribute to the men and women of
the Armed Forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam War.
Moving Wall Coming to Edinboro
The replication of one of the nation's most inspirational tributes to its war dead will soon visit Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
"The Moving Wall," a one-half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be exhibited on campus May 1-5.
"As a result of our collaboration with the Erie County Office of Veterans' Affairs and Vietnam Combat Veterans, Limited, Edinboro University is pleased to sponsor The Moving Wall exhibit on our beautiful campus," said President Jeremy D. Brown in announcing the sponsorship.
During that initial announcement last November, Erie County Veterans' Affairs Director John Williams said, "We're delighted to facilitate this partnership between Edinboro University and Vietnam Combat Veterans, Limited. The Moving Wall exhibit last visited Erie County in 1995, so we're excited and pleased that another generation of citizens will have the opportunity to visit, honor and pay respects to more than 58,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation."
Williams, a U.S. Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War, said Edinboro University affords "a perfect, pastoral location for reflection and contemplation of this awe-inspiring replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial."
The Moving Wall will be situated in a serene, tree-lined grassy area along the University's five-acre Mallory Lake near the center of campus. The location provides ample parking and easy visitor access.
According to President Brown, among the more than 58,000 names listed on the 253-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington are more than 100 from northwestern Pennsylvania who lost their lives while serving in Vietnam.
"The Vietnam War was both the longest and arguably most controversial war in U.S. history to date. The war touched the lives of virtually every family in the nation. Everyone was related to or personally knew of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine killed in Vietnam," Dr. Brown said.
He said The Moving Wall is often thought to be as inspirational as the original in Washington.
"A stated goal of those who created the monument in Washington, however, was to avoid commentary on the war itself, choosing instead to allow The Wall to serve solely as a memorial to those who served and died. It is with that stated intent that Edinboro University is proud to host The Moving Wall."
Brown said The Moving Wall's presence on campus will allow thousands of northwestern Pennsylvania 
residents "to visit the replica of one of America's most profound and inspirational memorials."
The Moving Wall exhibit will be free and open to the public 24 hours a day, following the opening ceremony at noon on May 1. While thousands of the region's citizens are expected to attend, President Brown has also invited the region's middle and senior high school students to formally tour the exhibit. To date, at least 1,600 students from 14 area schools are registered for the tours.
"Learning is preeminent at Edinboro University," Brown said. "The presence of The Moving Wall provides a wonderful opportunity for our region's school students to better understand an important chapter of American history and honor those many men and women who paid the ultimate price for democracy."
President Brown also said the exhibit provides accessibility to the memorial for area residents who otherwise cannot travel to Washington, D.C.
"That becomes important given the recent significant increases in the cost of gasoline," Brown said.
Other sponsors of the Moving Wall exhibit are WJET-Channel 24, Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Edinboro's Wal-Mart store, The Times Publishing Company, NW REC, Channellock, Hagan Business Machines of Meadville, Inc., and Fine Print Commercial Printers, Inc.
