The moving wall

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Luis Loza Gutierrez
  • Public Affairs
The local chapter of the Non Commissioned Officers Association along with other military professional organizations is bringing the Moving Wall to the San Angelo community. 

The Moving Wall, a replica of the actual Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., is half the size, and called the moving wall because it travels to various communities around the country. The moving wall contains more than 55,000 names, of which approximately 50 are names of people from the Concho Valley. 23 are the names of fallen servicemembers from San Angelo.
 
"Bringing the Moving Wall to San Angelo is a way of giving back to the community," said Tech. Sgt. Jay Wingfield, NCO Association, Ft. Concho Chapter chairman.

"It is important that people remember the sacrifices that generations of servicemen and women have made for our country. We hope by having the wall here it will serve as a reminder," he added.

The Moving Wall is scheduled to arrive Oct. 10. and will be on display from Oct. 11-15, with an opening ceremony scheduled on Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.

"We're expecting the wall to be up and ready for display by noon on the eleventh so guests can view it earlier," said Cynthia Willey, NCO Association, Ft. Concho Chapter secretary and treasurer.

Although the NCO Association has raised approximately $3,000 from private organizations, businesses and individuals to help reserve and bring the Moving Wall, another $3,000 is needed to cover remaining expenses.

"Although we welcome donations from major businesses, this is more of a 'grass-roots' type of event, and we would like to see more local businesses and residents contribute to the wall being here," said Mrs. Willey.

Bringing the wall to the community is just part of the deal. The NCO Association is still in need of volunteers to stand guard at the wall and assist visitors with locating names.
The NCO Association needs a minimum of eight volunteers for each of the scheduled shifts. Shifts will be day and night and at least two hours in duration. Water and rest areas will be provided for volunteers.

Individuals or groups interested in making a monetary donation or interested in volunteering can contact the NCO Association, Ft. Concho chapter via e-mail at ftconchoncoa@verizon.net or contact Sergeant Wingfield at jay.wingfield@goodfellow.af.mil

"We want people to understand that by contributing to the moving wall, whether that be in the form of time or money, they will not just be helping ensure that the display of the wall is a success, but they will be helping preserve an important symbol of our nation's history and keep the memory of our fallen brothers and sisters in arms alive," concluded Sergeant Wingfield.