Latest news with #AmericanVeteransTravelingTribute
American Press
27-07-2025
- American Press
Traveling tribute to Vietnam veterans coming to Allen Parish
A traveling tribute to Vietnam veterans is coming to Allen Parish just before Veterans Day. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute, a powerful replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display from Nov. 3-7 next to the Inn at Coushatta on U.S. 165 in Kinder. The 8-foot-high, 360-foot-long replica wall serves as a moving tribute to those who served in the Vietnam War, offering visitors a chance to honor the fallen and reflect on their sacrifices. The wall features over 58,000 names of those who died or are missing in action. Six Allen Parish veterans are among the names listed on the wall. 'The goal is to educate our children about the Vietnam War and remember those who didn't return home,' Allen Parish Tourist Director Adagria Haddock said. The memorial also aims to support veterans and their families, especially those unable to visit the D.C. memorial. 'I look forward to being able to educate people, honor our veterans and have people see that freedom is not free,' she said. 'These people gave their lives for us to be able to do what we do in America.' This marks the third time a replica of the wall has visited Allen Parish. Preparations for the wall's visit have been ongoing since February, and the community is invited to participate through various sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are especially needed to guide and escort visitors, including school groups, who are encouraged to visit the wall as an educational experience. Schoolchildren will have the opportunity to select a Louisiana soldier's name from the wall online, print their picture and information, and then write a card to be placed with a silk rose below the soldier's name on the wall. They can also create rubbings of the names. In addition to the main memorial wall, the display will include a 'Cost of Freedom Wall,' a 72-panel exhibit listing all wars, including the 9/11 attack, and the names of fallen soldiers. A Vietnam War museum featuring information and memorabilia will also be on display. Veterans resource service personnel will also be available to assist veterans with medical help, benefits, disability claims, education opportunities, mental health, VA eligibility, and other healthcare needs. The tribute wall will be set up on Saturday, Nov. 1, and will be open to the public 24 hours a day from 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, through Friday, Nov. 7. On Sunday, Nov. 2, a parade featuring motorcycles and antique cars will travel north along U.S. 165 to the site, followed by a brief ceremony. Former Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs secretary Joey Strickland, (retired U.S. Air Force colonel) will be the keynote speaker during an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3. A candlelight vigil honoring Louisiana soldiers whose names are on the wall will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Retired Colonel Charlton Meginley, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, will be guest speaker. Wednesday, Nov. 5 will be Agent Orange Awareness Day. Agent orange medals will be awarded to those veterans affected by Agent Order. 'If a veteran in Vietnam was affected by Agent Orange, they need to call us and fill out an application with their name, address, and the way they were affected,' Haddock said. Thursday, Nov. 6 will be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day and Florence Nightingale Day, honoring the eight nurses' whose names appear on the wall. Katrina Lloyd, the state surgeon for the Louisiana National Guard, will be the guest speaker. A closing ceremony titled 'Let Freedom Ring' will conclude the wall's visit at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. The visit is sponsored by the Louisiana Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and Allen Parish Tourism Commission. All events are free and open to the public. Schools interested in planning visits can contact Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 President Mike Breaux at 337-523-1593. For those wishing to volunteer or apply for an Agent Orange medal, contact Haddock at 337-401-1315 or the Allen Parish Tourism Commission at 337-639-4868.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Traveling tribute to veterans and Ride of Honor coming to Concordia
CONCORDIA (KSNT) – Later this week, the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Traveling Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Cost of Freedom Tribute, will make its way to Concordia. Starting on Thursday, June 5, the three-day event for America's Freedom Tribute will start with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. The event will feature a variety of speakers, including Mayor Amy Jackson, Trooper Ben Gardner and Senator Elaine Bowers. The event will include ceremonies, musical performances, actions and a Ride of Honor by the American Legion Riders and Sons of the American Legion. Various items will be available in the auction, including hogs, quilts and firearms. $1.9 billion CHIPS grant denied for Kansas 3 p.m. – Exhibit opens with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and National Anthem by Olivia Bergmeier 4 p.m. – Hearing from various speakers 6 p.m. – Hearing from Trooper Ben Gardner, first responders and the Army Friday, June 6th, 2025 7 a.m. – Posting of Colors and Raising of Flag 7:30 a.m. – Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance 8 a.m. – Exhibits in the Armory and silent auction open 11 a.m. – Ride of Honor Noon – National Anthem by Olivia Bergmeier 1 p.m. – Hearing from various speakers 1:30 p.m. – 35th Infantry Division Band 3:30 p.m. – Folding of Flag 6 p.m. – K-9 demonstration with Kansas Highway Patrol 9 p.m. – Closing prayer 7 a.m. – Posting of Colors and Raising of Flag 7:30 a.m. – Prayer by Pastor Bret Denham 8 a.m. – Exhibits in the Armory open 9 a.m. – National Anthem by Sarah Jeardoe 10 a.m. – Speaker Don Askren from McConnell Air Force Base 2 p.m. – Folding of the Flag presentation 2:30 p.m. – Prayer and Retrieval of Colors 9 p.m. – Candlelight Service 7 a.m. – Posting of Colors and Raising of Flag 7:30 a.m. – Prayer & Worship Service 8 a.m. – Exhibits in the Armory open 9 a.m. – National Anthem by Justin Sly 8:15 a.m. – Sausage & biscuit breakfast 9 a.m. – Speaker Sergeant Major Heath A. Trost 11 a.m. – Folding of the Flag presentation 1 p.m. – Paddle auction 1:30 p.m. – Live auction 5 p.m. – Silent auction ends Kansas sees smoky, hazy skies Monday due to Canadian wildfires For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
American Press
21-04-2025
- General
- American Press
Traveling National Vietnam Veterans Memorial plans stop in Allen Parish
Vietnam Veterans ceremony was held at Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Saturday, March 25, 2023. (Kirk Meche) The American Veterans Traveling Tribute, a replica of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be visiting Allen Parish this fall, just in time for Veterans Day. The exhibit will be on display Nov. 3-7 next to the Inn at Coushatta, off U.S. 165 and Hickory Flat Road in Kinder. The memorial will be open 24 hours a day and will be free to the public. The 8-foot-tall, 360-foot-long Traveling Vietnam Wall will honor and remember the more than 58,000 soldiers whose names are engraved on the wall. The exhibit will be accompanied by the Cost of Freedom Tribute, a series of smaller panels that recognizes the service and sacrifices of veterans during World War I and II, Korea, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. 'There are 885 soldiers' names from Louisiana on that wall and that shocks me,' Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 President Mike Breaux said. Six of those names on the wall are from Allen Parish. This is the third time a replica of the Vietnam Wall has been displayed in Allen Parish in 25 years, with previous visits in 2000 and 2004. 'I think it is great that we are getting the wall here again for all our veterans who can't go to Washington, D.C.,' Vietnam Veterans of America State President Terry Courville said, noting that the same names engraved on the wall in Washington, D.C. are also on the traveling replica. Courville said the wall is an emotional experience that serves as a healing for veterans and their families, especially as many Vietnam veterans approach 80 years old. Allen Parish Tourist Director Adagria Haddock said several events are being planned to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, including special educational tours for school children. 'It lets every generation know the importance of the Vietnam war and the sacrifices that were made by those who served,' she said. 'It is our hope that the wall will educate youth so that history may never die.' Organizers are also planning to have area high school students read the names of the local veterans on the wall. In conjunction with the exhibit, vendors will offer information, services and resources on veterans' programs, including benefits, housing, jobs, recovery, counseling and more. The event is sponsored by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 and the Allen Parish Tourist Commission. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 and Allen Parish Tourist Commission are seeking volunteers and donations. More information and a schedule of events will be announced closer to the event date. For more information, contact the Allen Parish Tourism Commission at 337-639-4868.
