Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Coming to Fort Collins in May

The traveling Vietnam War memorial wall is returning to Fort Collins in May. Welcome Home: A Salute to Our Vietnam War Veterans events will be held May 24-29, 2017, with the official ceremony held on Sunday, May 28, 2017. All events will be held at the Veterans Plaza located in the Spring Canyon Community Park, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Highlights

• A 360-foot traveling Vietnam War memorial wall
• Huey gunship
• VN Helicopter Museum
• Helicopter flyover
• Reading of the names of the 58,223 fallen and 1,626 missing
• Bob Hope USO Show
• Nightly services
• Sunday ceremony

 Schedule

Wednesday, May 24

3 p.m. (approx) - Wall arrives in Fort Collins with an escort of State troopers, Police, Sheriff’s Department, and assorted motorcycle associations which meet up at the 1-25/Berthoud exit.

For information about individuals and/or organizations volunteering to escort the wall, providing a night security shift, or assembling/disassembling the wall, contact Brad Jensen, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, foxtrot_charlie@yahoo.com.

Thursday, May 25

• 7 a.m. - Wall erected by volunteers.
• 7 a.m. – Reading of the names begins and lasts until 10 p.m. For information about volunteering to read names, contact Lori Whitson, 970-498-5242.
• 7 p.m. – Prayer, honor/color guard, 21-Gun salute, piper, Taps

Friday, May 26

• 7 a.m. – Reading of the names begins and lasts until 10 p.m.
• 7 p.m. - Prayer, honor/color guard, 21-gun salute, piper, Taps

Saturday, May 27

• 7 a.m. – Reading of the names begins and lasts until 10 p.m.
• All day – Reenactors, Vietnam museum, Huey gunship display
• 12 – 6 p.m. Bob Hope USO Show, music, entertainment, food trucks and beer garden
• 7 p.m. – Prayer, honor/color guard, 21-gun salute, piper, Taps

Sunday, May 28

• 7 a.m. – Reading of the names begins and lasts until 10 p.m. (There will be a break from 12-1 p.m.)
• 9 a.m. – Veteran-benefiting vendors display booths until 4 p.m. For more information about booths, contact Dorothy Clark, 727-742-5264.
• All Day – Reenactors, Vietnam museum, Huey gunship display
• 12 – 1 p.m. – Ceremony, soils added to Victory Garden, speakers, Huey flyover, food trucks, honor/color guard, 21-gun salute, piper, Taps

Monday, May 29

• 7 a.m. – Reading of the names begins and lasts until 3 p.m.
• 3 p.m. – Prayer, honor/color guard, 21-gun salute, piper, Taps
• 3 p.m. – Wall deconstructed by volunteers

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed! Also, in conjunction with Welcome Home events, the Northern Colorado Celebrating Gratitude Committee is recruiting ambassadors to lead gratitude letter writing efforts to thank veterans for their work to create the conditions where American citizens enjoy a free country. Letters will be distributed during Welcome Home events. Individuals, businesses, schools, and government and/or non-profit organizations are encouraged to help. For more information about the Celebrating Gratitude letter-writing campaign, please contact Mary Zenzen at mary@betterworldorganizations.com or 970-310-8751.