Memorial for Kentucky’s Vietnam veterans coming to town
Kentucky’s Vietnam veterans memorial will make its first trip to Winchester later this month.
The Traveling Kentucky Vietnam Wall, based in Harrodsburg, will be on display outside the Winchester Walmart on three occasions before the end of October.
The Winchester Elks Lodge recently made a donation to the Winchester Walmart to bring the display to Clark County.
“The Elks got involved because of the veterans,” Elks member Sam Williams said. “We support not only the veterans but we support scholarships. Our big deal is veterans and youth. It was a no-brainer. We just had to make it official.”
Walmart employee Mike Cassidy said the display bears the names of 1,105 veterans from Kentucky who were killed in Vietnam, were prisoners of war or who are still missing in action.
“There’s a two-fold purpose,” Cassidy said. “To bring the wall to Clark County and let people pay their respects and also to raise funds for Fisher House.”
The Fisher House Foundation builds homes where military families can stay where a family member is in the hospital. Cassidy said donations for Fisher House will be accepted inside the store, while donations for the wall will be accepted outside.
The wall will be on public display for 24 hours beginning at 8 am. Aug. 31 and again Sept. 21 and Oct. 26. Each time, the wall will be escorted by members of the Patriot Guard and Rolling Thunder, Cassidy said.
“I think this is a good opportunity not only for our veterans to come but for any young people to see what sacrifices were made for the country,” Williams said.