Video: Vietnam Veterans Raising Money For Memorial Wall

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — Last minute preparations are underway in Tupelo for a weekend honoring the region’s military  heroes. It begins with a concert this evening. All day Saturday, events take place to help raise money for a replica of the Vietnam Wall that will be built at Veteran’s Park. WCBI’s Allie Martin talked with some veterans of the Vietnam War to see what the project means to them.

Fifty years ago the United States entered the Vietnam War. Hundreds of thousands of young men were drafted, or volunteered, to help stop the spread of communism in southeast Asia. Many of them came from the Northeast Mississippi area.

Each man did his duty, and returned home to a country deeply divided about the war.

“The honor is in the service, not the cause of the war, I think a lot of our Vietnam vets feel that way,” said Randy Sutton, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War.

And as the nation began to realize the sacrifice of the Vietnam Vets, memorials, like the Wall in Washington DC, were commissioned.

Several years ago, an effort began to build a Vietnam Memorial Wall in Tupelo. It will be at Veteran’s Park, and will be 60 percent the size of the Washington DC wall. Also, it will contain 58 267 names of those who didn’t return home from the war.

To help cover the estimated $800,000 cost, a series of events called “Weekend for our Heroes” is taking place. There will be a concert, a 5 k run, an archery contest, rides in a Vietnam era Huey helicopter, and a dinner. All proceeds go to the project.

“The Department of Defense is recognizing the Vietnam War with a 50 year commemoration, this will be part of our commemoration for it,” said Danny Booth, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era.

Although 50 years have passed, these veterans say having a replica of the Vietnam Wall in this area will help in the healing process, and it will also be an educational tool for generations to come.

“War is not a pretty picture, and those who serve in it are there to close width and destroy the enemy. If we’re not allowed to do the job and win, we are hamstrung and we are going to lose more wars, more battles,” said Rex Moody, who served 30 years in the USMC.

For a lineup of events, go to www.weekend4ourheroes.com