East Hudson Valley News

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino has announced that the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Traveling Vietnam Wall will be displayed at Bowdoin Park from September 18 to September 22. The wall, an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., lists the names of U.S. Military personnel who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. The exhibit will also feature tributes to every U.S. military action since World War I, including 9/11.

“Dutchess County is incredibly proud to bring the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Bowdoin Park this September to honor the service and sacrifice made by more than 58,000 soldiers during that period,” said County Executive Serino. “This event gives the opportunity to show our respect and gratitude for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and allows our community to come together to recognize and appreciate those brave service men and women who never received a proper ‘welcome home.’ For those who may have not yet gotten the chance to visit the full-scale memorial in our nation’s capital, we hope you will join us in commemorating their service and sacrifice here in our local community. I thank our Office of Veterans Affairs Director Adam Roche and his team for their dedication and tireless work to bring this important event to fruition.”

An honor convoy, including law enforcement agencies and several chapters of Rolling Thunder Inc. motorcycle club, will escort the Wall upon its arrival on September 18. The exhibit will be open around-the-clock until it departs on September 23.

The schedule of events includes:

**Wednesday, Sept. 18**

- 9 a.m.: Traveling Wall Arrival at Bowdoin Park

- 5 p.m.: Opening Ceremony featuring Missing Man Table and keynote address from Richard Lay

**Thursday, Sept. 19**

- All day: Military Vehicles Display & History of Dogs in the Vietnam War

- Dusk: Performance of “Taps”

**Friday, Sept. 20**

- All day: Military Vehicles Display

- Dusk: Performance of “Taps”

**Saturday, Sept. 21**

- All day: Military Vehicles Display

- Noon-2 p.m.: Boy Scouts Concert Band performing patriotic music

- 2-5 p.m.: Veterans Resource Tent

- 6 p.m.: Ceremony & Candlelight Vigil with keynote speaker Karl R. Rohde

**Sunday, Sept. 22**

- Noon-2 p.m.: Boy Scouts Concert Band performing patriotic music

- 2 p.m.: Raffle drawing for USA flag flown over the Wall; proceeds benefit Mental Health America’s Vet-2-Vet program

- Closing ceremony and volunteer recognition

Veterans Affairs Director Adam Roche stated, “It has been said that acknowledging the names of the fallen is a sacred experience for surviving veterans, bringing forth emotions and memories that may have been held inside for decades. We are proud to bring this important edifice to Dutchess County... We are grateful to countless veteran agencies, volunteers...who have stepped up.”

Volunteers are needed throughout each day from September 18 through September 22 between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

For more information on volunteering or other veterans services in Dutchess County visit dutchessny.gov/veterans.