The Moving Wall returns to Ellwood City Aug. 18-21

ELLWOOD CITY − Robert Morabito said he remembers going to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1984, two years after it was officially installed.

He said he remembers being overcome with emotion looking at all of the names listed on the memorial, with over 58,000, knowing that is how many men and women gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.

Morabito, who is a historian and past commander for Ellwood City American Legion Post No. 157, wrote about the history of the memorial in a newsletter through the Ellwood City Area Historical Society.

"It is emotional. It hits you. It's very moving," Morabito said.

Now, area residents will be able to once again see the list of those who had fallen during the war, as The Moving Wall, a portable, half-size replica of the memorial, will be returning to Ellwood City Aug. 18-21 in Ewing Park.

Aug. 18 schedule

At 9 a.m. Aug. 18, The Moving Wall will be escorted, by both volunteers and emergency personnel, from Union Township down Interstate 376 and Route 422 through West Pittsburg, Wampum, Koppel and Ellwood City, before being dropped off in Ewing Park between 9:30-10 a.m.

From there, volunteers will begin assembling the wall, which Morabito said should take between 3-4 hours.

Once the assembly is done, Morabito said Gold Star families of those who have loved ones whose names are on the wall will be given private time to view the wall on their own.

From 5-6 p.m., a reception for Gold Star families and Vietnam War veterans will be held in the park, followed by an opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at the Folino Shelter, the latter of which is open to the public.

During the opening ceremony, the Rev. Steve Plyler, pastor of Bell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City, will give the invocation and benediction, the Ellwood City Civic Chorale will sing the National Anthem and other patriotic music, Mayor Anthony Court will give remarks, the Beaver-Lawrence Veterans Honor Guard will perform the rifle salute and "Taps," Ellwood City Boy Scout Troop 806 will conduct the flag raising, and the featured speaker will be Robert Patrick "Rocky" Bleier.

Bleier played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1968, and from 1971-80, and served in the Vietnam War from 1968-70 with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, later receiving the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service and actions during the war.

More: Rocky Bleier to be featured speaker during opening ceremony for The Moving Wall in Ellwood

Viewing the wall

Morabito said following the opening ceremonies, The Moving Wall will be able to be viewed 24/7 until it is disassembled on Aug. 22 around 9 a.m.

He said due to the emotions of the wall and what it represents, grief and veterans counselors will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Other volunteers will be on-site, during those times, to help people locate specific names on the wall, or to help people scan a QR code on their phones to help locate names that way.

Volunteers will also help individuals trace names from the wall, using special "crayon" materials, during the allotted time, but will leave the materials there for individuals to do so after hours, as there will be lights by the wall.

Morabito said there will be constant around-the-clock security from the National Guard, while the Ellwood City Police Department will increase their patrols around the area of the wall.

He also said there will be an "Honor Artifact Tent," which will have booklets and other artifacts that highlight the men who graduated from either Lincoln or Riverside high school and were killed during the war.

They are Dennis Ralph Baker (Panel 17W - Line 93), Larry Eugene Boyer (Panel 24W - Line 101), David Lynn Brown (Panel 45E – Line 16), David John Gamble (Panel 16W – Line 38) and David Francis Smith (Panel 20W – Line 104), John Leroy Straley (Panel 01E – Line 102), Robert Martin Kuner Jr. (Panel 09W – Line 56) and William James Bowers (Panel 43E – Line 91).

Morabito said attendees will be able to hear more background information and personal stories about those men.

Gold Star and closing ceremonies

At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20, there will be a special Gold Star ceremony for the Gold Star families, at the Folino Shelter, which is open to the public.

The Boys Scouts will conduct the flag raising with Dale Brown playing the National Anthem on bagpipes.

The Rev. Tod Custer will give the invocation and benediction, while Pete Maietta will conduct the Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing-in-Action (MIA) ceremony.

American Legion Post 157 will read the local names on the wall with a bell tolling, Gold Star families will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony, Dale Brown will perform a bagpipe solo of "Amazing Grace," the Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct a rifle salute and "Taps," and the featured speaker will be a family member of Leslie H. Sabo. Jr.

Sabo graduated from Lincoln High School in 1966 and served in the Vietnam War. He was killed on May 10, 1970, in Cambodia, at the age of 22, protecting soldiers from a grenade blast and providing covering fire.

In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by former President Barack Obama.

At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21, the closing ceremony will be held at the Folino Shelter, which is open to the public.

The Boy Scouts will conduct the flag raising, with Jared Kaiser singing the National Anthem.

The Rev. James Johnson, pastor of Risen Savior Christian Church in Ellwood City, will conduct the invocation and benediction.

Allen Scrima will conduct a special honors ceremony, attendees will sing "God Bless America," the New Castle Veterans Honor Guard will conduct the rifle salute and "Taps," current Ellwood American Legion Commander Joe Fisher will give his remarks, and the featured speaker will be Larry Googins, from the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans Association of Beaver County, who is also a Vietnam combat veteran from the Air Force.

American Legion still looking for volunteers

This is the first time The Moving Wall has been to Ellwood City since 2009.

Morabito said former Ellwood City councilman and borough manager the late Dom Viccari, a veteran himself, was one of the main people responsible for getting the wall to come back then and was instrumental in getting the wall to come back this year, serving as chairman of the Moving Wall Committee until his death.

More: Not Forgotten: How Dom Viccari dedicated his life to his family and his community

Morabito said he is sad Viccari is not able to see the fruit of his labor again, but said he knows Viccari is still involved "spiritually."

The back of the booklet that will be seen during the weekend will be dedicated to Viccari.

Morabito said the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and The Moving Wall, are ways to provide meaningful and respectful tributes to those who passed away during the war.

He said the country has come a long way in treating Vietnam War veterans with respect after the poor treatment they received when they initially came back from the war.

"It heals those wounds. It means a lot to veterans," Morabito said.

He said the American Legion is still looking for any volunteers willing to help during the weekend. Those interested can reach out to volunteer coordinator Rich Griffith at 724-496-9076, or at richgriffith95@gmail.com.

More: Volunteers needed to help with The Moving Wall's return to Ellwood City

Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: The Moving Wall returns to Ellwood City Aug. 18-21