The local area will have the opportunity to honor Vietnam veterans by visiting a replica of a monument created in memory of those who died serving.
The Moving Wall, a roughly half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be in the Coudersport Area Recreation Park (CARP) from Sept. 13 to 17.
It is by the efforts of many in Potter County that The Moving Wall will be making the local stop.
“Many organizations, and citizens alike have worked together over the last few months to bring all of this together and plan the event,” said Jesse W. Olson, Post quartermaster of Galeton VFW Post 6611 and one of the chairmen of the Potter County Moving Wall committee.
Many hands are still needed to ensure the exhibit’s visit is a smooth one.
To start, the committee is looking for volunteers to help build the foundation on which to assemble the wall, a task that will begin at 8 a.m. Sunday at CARP with a rain date of Monday. People will also be needed to assemble the wall Sept. 13 and disassemble it Sept. 17.
While the wall is there, people will be needed to help others locate names on the wall, help create rubbings of the names on the wall and provide aid to disabled visitors.
Anyone interested in helping should sign up on the volunteer form by visiting the committee’s website, https://olsonjw26.wixsite.com/pocomovingwall/volunteers, and clicking the green Volunteer Sign Up button.
Additionally, the committee is looking for anyone interested in volunteering to guard the wall during those days and nights.
“Shifts run in 4-hour blocks of time, and on a 24-hour basis,” said Olson, who said volunteer guards can sign up for a shift by contacting David Saulter at (814) 274-9763 or saulterD.G.@yahoo.com.
People can see the wall anytime, but visitors are welcome to attend the activities happening each day at the site.
“There will be a daily ceremony to include raising and lowering of the flag and Taps played at the wall,” Olson explained.
An opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Sept. 13 has a list of activities that includes patriotic songs, prayers, laying of wreaths, speeches, candle-lighting and bell-tolling and a rifle salute.
Each day from Sept. 14 to 17 will include a morning service, with the raising of colors at sunrise just before 7 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer service at 8 a.m.
The retiring of colors will happen at sunset to the sound of Arthur Metzger playing “Taps”; the only exception will be Sept. 17, when the retiring of colors will occur at 2 p.m. during the closing ceremony.
The Headwater’s Chapter Barbershop Harmony Society will hold a Military Tribute concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
During the day on Sept. 15, visitors not only will be able to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to the United States; they will have a chance to save a life, too. A bloodmobile will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to collect donations.
The Moving Wall exhibit will provide an educational opportunity to hundreds of area school students, too.
“Coudersport elementary and high schools will be attending the wall on Friday,” said Olson. “Other schools from around the county and surrounding areas will be attending the wall on Monday, totaling approximately 500 students on Monday.”
A large number of groups are offering support through many ways to make the event happen, he said.
This includes the Moving Wall Committee and Volunteers; the Pine Valley Nursery; L.E.E.K. Hunting and Mountain Preserve; A & W West End Grill; Always in Bloom; American Legion Auxiliary Units 192 of Coudersport, 530 of Shinglehouse and 963 of Ulysses, American Legion Posts 530 of Shinglehouse, 963 of Ulysses and 192 of Coudersport; Austin VFW; bag piper Chet Norton; Baxter’s Bakery, bugler Arthur Metzger; Close’s Lumber; Coudersport Ambulance Service; Coudersport Area High School; Coudersport Borough, Coudersport Borough Police; Coudersport Volunteer Fire Co.; Fox’s Pizza Den; Galeton VFW Post & Auxiliary 6611; Headwater’s Chapter Barbershop Harmony Society; KayTee’s Family Restaurant; Lagrew Printing Co.; Laurelwood Inn & Steakhouse; Morgan Advanced Material; Mosch’s Tavern; Pennsylvania Department of Military & Veterans Affairs; state police; Potter County commissioners; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 192 in Coudersport; Tea Room & Cafe; and The Hotel Crittenden.
