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Residents Honor 58,000 Killed in Vietnam War
11/07/08 - 06:27 PM

WMBB News Department

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An opening ceremony is held Friday night in St. Andrews for The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the national Vietnam War Memorial.

Over the next few days, family, friends, and veterans in the Panhandle will remember the 58,000 service members who lost their lives in the conflict.

Vietnam veteran Rodney Herring is one of four veterans who helped the St. Andrews Civic Club bring the wall to Panama City.

“It’s good to see it come here, because every time you see one that visits a community, there are so many people who have never had the opportunity to go to Washington who can come find the names of their loved ones,” says Herring, a Navy veteran who did one tour of duty during the Vietnam War.

People like Linda Kisner are flocking to Oaks by the Bay Park to see the memorial.

“It’s just touching to think that they gave their lives for us,” says Kisner, who got a rubbing of a name on her visit to the wall Friday.

“Gerald Wehde, and he was a real good friend to my two older sisters in Missouri.  He was killed on a ship, in the Navy,” she says.

Some who come leave flowers and stuffed animals, gifts for the thousands of service members whose memories live on thanks to displays like this.

Volunteers will assist in reading all the names from the wall from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day, in addition to other special events.

A Native American ceremony is set for Saturday at 5:00 p.m., and Bay County’s 23 service members whose names are on the wall will be honored on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

On Monday, Mineman Second Class Petty Officer Michael Taylor from the Naval Support Activity Panama City will receive a Purple Heart in a special ceremony at 9:00 a.m.

The closing ceremony is Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.