Latest news with #TourismCommission
American Press
2 days ago
- Health
- American Press
Vietnam vets impacted by Agent Orange given new recognition
Applications are now open for Vietnam veterans eligible to receive an Agent Orange Medal. A special pinning ceremony will be held 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5 4-6 p.m. as part of Agent Orange Awareness Day at the Vietnam Wall display in Kinder. The names of medal recipients will be read during the ceremony, and those in attendance will be pinned. Valarie Trahan, of the Allen Parish Tourism Commission, said the medal and ceremony aims to recognize veterans who were exposed to, affected by and continue to suffer from the effects of Agent Orange, a herbicide and defoliant used during the Vietnam War. 'We want the medal and the ceremony to be our way of letting these veterans know they were not forgotten because this was a tragedy for our veterans,' Trahan said, noting that many veterans are still suffering from the side effects of being exposed to Agent Orange. 'Hopefully this will help heal their heart and somehow let them know they are not forgotten.' There are 18 medically acceptable conditions for the medal, including amyloidosis, non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, prostate cancer, Parkinson's seaside, respirator cancers, multiple myeloma, hypertension. Applications for Agent Orange Medal are being accepted through Aug. 25. Applications are available at the Allen Parish Tourist Commission Office on U.S. 165 in Oberlin or by calling the Tourism Commission at 337-639-4868. Over 60 applications have been received so far. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute, a replica of the national memorial in Washington, D.C. will be on display Nov. 3-7 next to the Inn at Coushatta on U.S. 165 in Kinder. This eight-foot-high, 360-long-foot wall serves as a powerful tribute to those who served in the Vietnam War and the more than 58,000 who lost their lives, according to Allen Parish Tourism Director Adagria Haddock. 'These men and women gave their all and for the ones who survived, this will be a welcome home,' Haddock said. 'This is our time to honor and love them and show them the respect they deserve.' Special crosses will also be on display to honor Allen Parish soldiers who died in the war. The wall will be escorted from I-10 along U.S. 165 to Kinder at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, by a motorcade of police and emergency vehicles, motorcycles, and vintage cars. Local Vietnam veteran and Coushatta of Louisiana tribal member Lovelin Poncho will serve as grand marshal. The wall will officially open at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3 with a ceremony and will remain open to the public 24 hours a day through 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. The exhibit will also feature the Cost of Freedom Wall, a 72-panel exhibit listing all wars, including the 9/11 attacks and the names of fallen soldiers. A Vietnam War museum will also be on display. Daily ceremonies will include guest speakers, wreath laying and other presentations, a Farewell to Soldiers ceremony, candlelight vigil and sounding of Taps each evening. A special Nightingale ceremony will be held at 6 p.. on Thursday, Nov. 6 to honor nurses who served during the war. For more information, to volunteer or to make donations, contact the Tourism Commission at 337-639-4868.
South China Morning Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's role in nation's war of resistance against Japan to be commemorated
Hong Kong's contributions to the nation's fight against Japanese forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War will be a major theme in a series of coming activities to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance this year. Major battlefield trails in the countryside will get a facelift, with panels to be set up and facilities enhanced to allow hikers and visitors to learn more about the city's participation in the war and its role in rescuing allied troops while they explore wartime relics. The city's No 2 official Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Monday the government hoped the series of commemorative activities could help boost patriotism. 'Because of its unique geographical location, Hong Kong had supported the motherland in terms of the provision of supplies and materials during wartime,' Chan said. '[We] had also been involved in operations to rescue intellectuals [fleeing from mainland China] and members of the allied army.' Chan said to let more people know about the history and the city's role, the Tourism Commission and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department would identify and enhance hiking trails with historical significance during the war.
Time Out
03-06-2025
- Time Out
The Wisdom Path in Ngong Ping is going to close for refurbishment from this week
Among the many attractions on Lantau Island are popular sights like the Tian Tan Big Buddha, the Po Lin Monastery, and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car ride. Unfortunately for visitors to the area, one of these well-admired attractions, The Wisdom Path, will soon be closed from June 5 for refurbishment. This large-scale installation consists of 38 timber columns inscribed with the Heart Sutra, and arranged in a figure-of-eight formation along the hilly landscape to symbolise infinity. Professor Jao Tsung-I, an academic master renowned internationally for his research and art, donated an original calligraphy work of the Heart Sutra to Hong Kong, with the request that it be made into a large outdoor carving. The Wisdom Path was completed in 2005, and visitors can wend their way along the sculptures, contemplating the profound centuries-old text that is treasured by Buddhists, Taoists, and Confucians. It is also a popular spot for a casual hike, with an easy loop that can be completed in approximately half an hour. 20 years on, The Wisdom Path is due some TLC, with the Tourism Commission estimating that the refurbishment works will be fully complete in the last quarter of 2026. However, sections of the path will be reopened gradually before then, so locals and tourists alike can enjoy at least some of the attraction with minimal disruptions. During the time of its refurbishment work, visitors can take in The Wisdom Path from the viewing platform located on a section of the Lantau Trail nearby. There will also be QR codes leading interested parties to learn more about the sculpture's history and background.
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Twilight of the Warriors exhibition to sustain heritage tourism in Hong Kong
An exhibition of replica sets from the acclaimed martial arts film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, located at the original site of the Kowloon Walled City, will sustain Hong Kong's tourism enthusiasm, particularly for historical areas that evoke a sense of nostalgia, experts have said. Advertisement Scheduled to open this month for a three-year run at Kowloon Walled City Park, the exhibition will showcase classic sets from the Hong Kong box office hit, including a barber shop and tea stalls, with daily life recreated through an immersive experience, allowing visitors to travel back in time to the 1980s. Kowloon City was one of nine tourist hotspots identified by a government working group on Tuesday. These locations will feature expanded attractions and promotions to draw more tourists seeking in-depth trips to the city. In addition to the exhibition, the Tourism Commission plans to extend the 'City in Time Project' to Kowloon City district this year. Using augmented reality technology, tourists will be able to experience the Kowloon City of old, including the Walled City, Kai Tak Airport and its evolving landscape. This initiative aligns with the growing trend of 'city walks' and in-depth tours, highlighting the charm of the Walled City, vibrant Thai culture, Chiu Chow delicacies, memories of the old airport days and well-known movie scenes. Visitors take a walk back in time to the old days of Kowloon Walled City as part of the Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In exhibition. Photo: Dickson Lee Notably, some businesses, such as a tea leaf maker and a fish ball shop, which once operated within or near the Walled City, subsequently relocated to nearby Kowloon City and have since thrived, continuing their legacy.
