The Moving Wall arrives in Mountain Home

Ceremonies, highlighted by Medal of Honor winner Bernie Fisher, begin at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, June 16, in Carl Miller Park, opening a week-long appearance of The Moving Wall in Mountain Home.

The Moving Wall, a traveling half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display in Mountain Home today through June 21.

The wall arrived in Mountain Home Monday night after being met in Snowville, Utah, by members of the Idaho Motorcycle Club, led by Chuck Eckenrod.

In what wall officials described as "the largest escort ever," the 20 members of the club that met the wall in Snowville were joined in Twin Falls by another 20-25 club members, and then joined at the Elmore County line by representatives of the Elmore County Sheriff's Office, the Mountain Home Police Department, and the Idaho State Police.

It turned into Glenns Ferry, for a brief ceremony at the high school Monday night, then proceed on to Mountain Home.

Tuesday a large group of volunteers organized by Jim McCluer began erecting the monument to those lost in the Vietnam War. The wall is set up just in front of the fireplace in Carl Miller Park and runs across most of the width of the park. It contains the names of over 58,000 men who died in the Vietnam War, or who subsequently died of wounds, as well as those still listed as missing in action.

Tents for volunteers will be available to help visitors to the wall to find the names of old friends or loved ones on the wall. Hospitality and medical emergency areas also have be set up.

Cell phones must be turned off by anyone entering the park while the wall is up, and no pets will be allowed in the park.

North Tenth East Street, adjacent to Carl Miller Park, will be closed during the opening ceremonies (although parking will be available for handicapped vehicles).

The opening ceremonies for the week-long appearance of The Moving Wall will begin at promptly at 11 a.m. by a "missing man" formation flyover from elements of the 366th Fighter Wing, a prayer by representatives of the LDS Church First Ward, followed by the raising of U.S. and POW/MIA flags (to half staff) by honor guards from area veterans organizations.

A series of speeches will follow, headed -- in order -- by Medal of Honor winner Col. (ret.) Bernie Fisher of Kuna, 366th Wing Vice Commander Col. Ted Thompson, Brig. Gen. Larry LaFrenz, vice commander of the Idaho National Guard, and Mayor Joe McNeal. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne was forced late Tuesday afternoon to cancel his appearance and speech.

McNeal will presentfamily members of those from this area who lost loved ones in Vietnam with flags that have flown over the national capitol. The gifts are from the city and the Moving Wall in Mountain Home Committee.

The Mountain Home High School Drum Line and the Singing Sergeants from MHAFB will perform.

At 1 p.m. veterans of the war who have been lined up by ceremonies coordinator Phil Gridley, Jr., will begin telling their stories.

At 9 p.m. closing ceremonies for the day will begin, beginning with a prayer and song by members of the First Southern Baptist Church. At 9:15 p.m. the names of 40 Idahoans who died in Vietnam will be read. Forty names will be read each night the wall is in Mountain Home until the names of all Idahoans killed in the war have been honored.

At 9:45 p.m. taps will be played.

Excluding the speeches, similar ceremonies are planned throughout the next week, including a community candlelight vigil Sunday evening, June 20, beginning at 10 p.m. through June 21 (see schedule of events in this issue), and on June 22 crews will disassemble the wall and send it off to its next appearance.

Throughout the week, information booths will be set up to help people find names on the wall, and to hand out memorial "rubbing" sheets for those who want to make a rubbing of a given name on the wall.

The Moving Wall was paid for, like the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington of which it is a half-scale replica, from contributions made by the public.

It's appearances are coordinated by Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. It is not a display owned or operated by the federal government.

The local appearance of the wall has been paid for, in large part, by the Chamber of Commerce Air Force Appreciation Day Committee and the City of Mountain Home, as well as donations from a number of local clubs and individuals.

The following is the tentative list of activities scheduled during the appearance of The Moving Wall. Although ceremonies were scheduled for each morning, due to the death of former president Ronald Reagan flags will be flown at half-staff throughout the week the Moving Wall is in town.

Monday, June 14

Wall arrives

Tuesday, June 15

Wall set up

Wednesday June 16

11 a.m. -- Opening ceremony

Flyover MHAFB missing man formation.

Opening prayer by LDS Church 1st Ward.

Raise American and POW/MIA flags (to half staff). All honor guards for opening and all vet organizations.

National Anthem LDS Church 1st Ward.

Speeches:

* Medal of Honor Winner Col. Bernie Fisher.

* 366th Wing Vice Commander Col. Ted Thompson.

* Brig. Gen. Larry LaFrenz, vice commander of the Idaho National Guard.

* Mayor Joe McNeal.

Mountain Home High School Drum Line.

The Singing Sergeants.

1 p.m. -- Listen to vets tell their stories.

9 p.m. -- Prayer and song by First Southern Baptist church.

9:15 p.m. -- Read 40 names of Idahoans killed in Vietnam.

9:45 p.m. -- American Legion, VFW, DAV honor guard and taps.

Thursday, June 17

10:30 a.m. -- Prayer by Duck Valley.

11 a.m. -- Performance by Duck Valley Dancers.

1 p.m. -- Listen to vets tell their stories.

9 p.m. -- Nazarene Church group, prayer.

9:15 p.m. -- Read names of 40 Idahoans killed in Vietnam.

9:45 p.m. -- MHAFB honor guard, taps.

Friday, June 18

11 a.m. -- Flyover by Idaho National Guard helicopters. Prayer by Larry Semore, River of Life church, and song by Beth Thomas.

1 p.m. -- Listen to vets tell their stories.

9 p.m. -- Prayer, song by John and Julie Vogel.

9:15 p.m. -- Read names of 40 Idahoans killed in Vietnam

9:45 p.m -- National Guard honor guard, taps.

Saturday, June 19

(by Juneteenth Committee)

11 a.m. Prayer Rev. Dana Brazel, Abundant Life Choir.

1 p.m. -- Listen to vets tell their stories.

9 p.m. -- Prayer by Pastor Parmele, Love Abiding Church Choir.

9:15 p.m -- Read 40 names of Idahoans killed in Vietnam.

9:45 p.m. -- Juneteenth committee and taps.

Sunday, June 20

(by Juneteenth Committee

11 a.m. -- Prayer and song.

1 p.m. -- Listen to vets tell their stories

9 p.m. -- Rev. Truman Parker, Congregational Church, Bell Ringers.

9:15 p.m. -- Read 40 names of Idahoans killed in Vietnam.

9:45 -- Duck Valley firing team and taps.

10 p.m. -- Community candlelight vigil.

Monday, June 21

11 a.m. -- Flyover by A-10s of the Idaho National Guard's 124th Wing.

Prayer by the Catholic Church, Mary Lou Koelsch.

High school singers will perform.

1 p.m. -- Listen to vets tell their stories.

9 p.m. -- Prayer by Andrew Bailey, Assembly of God Church.

9:15 p.m. --Read 40 names of Idahoans killed in Vietnam.

9:45 p.m. -- American Legion, MHAFB, and National Guard honor guards, taps.