05/24/2026
We will performing at the opening ceremonies for the Moving Wall exhibition at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds June 5 at 9 a.m. Here's an article about it from todays PressEnterprise: "Replica of
Vietnam memorial to visit
Moving Wall tribute to be in Bloomsburg weekend of June 4-7
By M.J. MAHON
Press Enterprise Writer
BLOOMSBURG — A replica of Washington D.C.’s Vietnam Memorial Wall is returning to Bloomsburg next month.
The football-field sized tribute to lives lost during the Vietnam War, last erected in town in 2019, will arrive with a police es**rt Thursday, June 4. Volunteers and motorcycle riding groups will put its 74 panels into place.
It will be open for the public to view following an opening ceremony starting at 9 a.m. Friday, June 5. It will remain open, day and night, until Sunday, June 7, at 8 p.m. Renee Moist, of the Bloomsburg American Legion Woman’s Auxiliary, said its solemn visit was made possible by members of the Bloomsburg American Legion and its auxiliary, sons and riders groups; Bloomsburg VFW and Bloomsburg Elks. It cost $8,000 to bring to town and is being paid for by fundraising efforts, some of which are still underway.
The Moving Wall has been touring the country since 1984. Like the full-size wall in Washington D.C., it has changed over time, as the names of more veterans have been added.
Today the wall has more than 58,000 names etched into it.
‘Solemn event’
Moist said local veterans organizations first brought the wall to town in 2019. Thousands of people came to see it, including many veterans seeking the names of soldiers they fought alongside who never made it home.
After its several-day visit local veterans groups pledged to have it return at least once every 10 years. There are just two touring walls with a years-long waiting list for visits, Moist said.
Moist said she was surprised it became available this year because so many events are being held in conjunction with America 250, a nationwide effort to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Independence Day.
Furthermore, Moist and fellow Moving Wall committee members are honored to have it on display June 6 — World War II’s D-Day.
“It is a big deal,” Moist said. “It is very emotional. If you have not ever gone to something like this, it is a solemn event.”
Grand welcome
The wall is expected to arrive in the area June 4, around 8:30 a.m. Once it gets off the interstate in Lightstreet, police from Scott and South Centre Townships and Bloomsburg will join a convoy of motorcycle riders to es**rt it into town.
It will pass under an oversized American Flag displayed by two fire trucks as it makes its way to the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Its 74 panels will be linked together by the American Legion Riders and other military-supporting motorcycle riders groups, Moist said.
An opening ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. June 5. The Catawissa Military Band will play as an honor guard presents the colors.
A red, white and blue wreath made by Legion auxiliary member Joyce Hammer will be laid at the wall by a local Gold Star Family or war veteran, Moist said. “We will keep it short and sweet,” Moist said of the ceremony.
Already emotional Ceremony speaker Jack Pollard, a Vietnam War veteran, says he may not be able to keep that promise. “I may have a little trouble getting through what I have to say,” said Pollard, 75. “I lost a good friend in Thailand in what was supposed to be a relatively safe area.”
That friend, William Ripley, was one of five U.S. Air Force members aboard a helicopter shot down near Nakhon Phanom’s Royal Thai Air Force base. Pollard and Ripley were stationed there together in 1970 and 1971. Pollard has already tucked his speech into a notebook that holds notes on where to find Ripley’s name on the wall. “I carry his name and his line number right with me,” he said. Pollard said after he speaks, he will find Ripley’s name before taking a few shifts guarding The Moving Wall.
“My speech will be about what the wall means not only to Vietnam veterans but to any veteran that was away from his family and missed holidays or birthdays. It makes you stop and look and say how many of these guys would have been fathers and see their kids grow up and play high school football.”
Other events
After the ceremony, the wall will be open for the public to walk up to and view.
Moist said, "like the original Vietnam Wall, folks can use paper and pencil to trace the names of family members as a keepsake. The sight of veterans bringing photos of lost friends to leave behind at previous showings have brought her to tears, she said.
“It is very moving,” she said.
Moist said other events are being planned during the weekend in conjunction with the wall’s visit.
The Bloomsburg American Legion will sell chicken barbecue at the fairgrounds Saturday, June 6, starting at 11 a.m., until it sells out. And, the Berwick Elks will serve breakfast Sunday, June 7, from 8 a.m. until noon.
The wall will be open 24 hours a day, with volunteers and veterans keeping watch over it until it closes when taps is played Sunday, June 7, at 8 p.m.
M.J. Mahon covers Bloomsburg; she can be reached at 570-218-7536 or [email protected].
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