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Current Issue Links
Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall absent
from festivities
from festivities
The highly anticipated Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall, which arrived here from the Antelope Valley Friday
afternoon, could not be displayed as planned Friday evening because of to leveling issues. The wall had
been expected to be on display May 14-22 in honor of Armed Forces Day.
The wall made the journey as planned, from the Antelope Valley to Ridgecrest, complete with a motorcycle
escort of over an estimated 70 riders. Residents along the route waved flags and cheered the volunteers on
as they made their journey to Freedom Park.
Volunteers and workers who accompanied the wall worked for hours in an attempt to display the wall in its
entire glory, to no avail. Attendees of the Candlelight Vigil held Friday night were surprised not to see the wall
on display, as planned.
“There was a leveling issue,” said Nick Coy, the man responsible for bringing the wall to Ridgecrest. “We
wanted to make sure the wall was safe and secure — not create any damage to the wall or the people
involved.”
Crew organizers who accompanied the wall to Ridgecrest reluctantly decided to bring the wall back to the
Antelope Valley for fear that even after many more hours of struggling, they still might not be able to display the
wall safely.
The Ridgecrest display of the Antelope Valley’s Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall was set to be only the
second exhibition of the wall, which was unveiled for the first time in Palmdale in November 2009.
“This was a learning experience for everyone involved,” said Coy. “People have come to me and asked
me, ‘What can we do to help make it happen?’”
Coy’s speech, warmly received by the attendees at the Candlelight Vigil, explained the circumstances
surrounding the wall’s absence. The Honorable Juan Garcia, III, rose from his seat to embrace Coy as he left
the stage and to tell him, “You did your best.”
Coy said he was heartbroken by Friday’s events, but isn’t about to give up. He plans to bring the wall back
to Ridgecrest once a solid strategy is figured out to ensure the wall’s proper display the next go around.
George Palermo, who is on the wall’s committee, plans on suggesting to the other volunteers on the
committee that the fees associated with bringing the wall back to Ridgecrest be waived. “I take this as a
gesture of good faith,” said Coy.
“We are going to come up with a plan, bring it to the committee that has the wall, have them look at the
situation and then set a date and get it done.”
He expressed his thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers who helped with the wall.
See acknowledgements.
afternoon, could not be displayed as planned Friday evening because of to leveling issues. The wall had
been expected to be on display May 14-22 in honor of Armed Forces Day.
The wall made the journey as planned, from the Antelope Valley to Ridgecrest, complete with a motorcycle
escort of over an estimated 70 riders. Residents along the route waved flags and cheered the volunteers on
as they made their journey to Freedom Park.
Volunteers and workers who accompanied the wall worked for hours in an attempt to display the wall in its
entire glory, to no avail. Attendees of the Candlelight Vigil held Friday night were surprised not to see the wall
on display, as planned.
“There was a leveling issue,” said Nick Coy, the man responsible for bringing the wall to Ridgecrest. “We
wanted to make sure the wall was safe and secure — not create any damage to the wall or the people
involved.”
Crew organizers who accompanied the wall to Ridgecrest reluctantly decided to bring the wall back to the
Antelope Valley for fear that even after many more hours of struggling, they still might not be able to display the
wall safely.
The Ridgecrest display of the Antelope Valley’s Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall was set to be only the
second exhibition of the wall, which was unveiled for the first time in Palmdale in November 2009.
“This was a learning experience for everyone involved,” said Coy. “People have come to me and asked
me, ‘What can we do to help make it happen?’”
Coy’s speech, warmly received by the attendees at the Candlelight Vigil, explained the circumstances
surrounding the wall’s absence. The Honorable Juan Garcia, III, rose from his seat to embrace Coy as he left
the stage and to tell him, “You did your best.”
Coy said he was heartbroken by Friday’s events, but isn’t about to give up. He plans to bring the wall back
to Ridgecrest once a solid strategy is figured out to ensure the wall’s proper display the next go around.
George Palermo, who is on the wall’s committee, plans on suggesting to the other volunteers on the
committee that the fees associated with bringing the wall back to Ridgecrest be waived. “I take this as a
gesture of good faith,” said Coy.
“We are going to come up with a plan, bring it to the committee that has the wall, have them look at the
situation and then set a date and get it done.”
He expressed his thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers who helped with the wall.
See acknowledgements.
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News Review Staff Writer
