09 The Traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall - Opening Ceremonies

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I went to Garnett, KS on Thursday for the opening ceremonies for the traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall. The wall was set up in front of the American Legion/VFW building at the south lake. The area is also known a Veterans Park. The ceremony started at 6pm I was there a few minutes for that.

Garnett was very pleased that they could afford to have the wall stop there and they have made it a big affair. They are having a variety of programs until the wall is taken down on Tuesday. Friday was to be school day. Garnett is the county seat and many students from all over the county go to school at Garnett. [Friday was wet and humid all day. Sprinkling most of the day. I later learned that over 1000 student came to see the wall.] Saturday evening the VFW Auxillary had a POW/MIA ceremony at the wall. Sunday was to be the Ride to the Wall. Bikers from KS and MO were invited to the wall to view it and enjoy a free BBQ Lunch.

Before the opening ceremony started the community band played background music, patriotic tunes. The band is made up of from community members aged 12 to 87. They play concerts and parades whenever invited and have gone as far as Branson MO to play. My Mom plays in the band. After she retired she learned to play the saxophone so she could play in the band.

The area was packed all the chairs they had set out were taken in no time and there were at least 50 people left standing along the side or back. Each was remembered during the ceremonies. The Mayor spoke about what it meant to him to bring the wall to Garnett. It was a deed dedicated to his dad, a Vietnam vet. The Cub Scout pack posted the service flags. The Girl Scouts laid wreathes. Anderson County lost 3 boys during the Vietnam era. Two of them appear on the wall, Dean L Gretencord and Edward A Stahl. The 3rd was lost in Thailand.

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