Traveling Vietnam Wall escorted through Ashland - what to know about 'The wall that heals'

More than 100 motorcycles made their way as part of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall and Cost of Freedom Tribute escort through downtown Ashland to the Ashland County Airport on Wednesday evening.

The exhibit opened Thursday evening and be part of Ashland County Veterans Appreciation Day on Saturday.From its point of origin in Tyler, Texas, the 360-foot-long replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., began its trip from the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield to the Ashland County Airport at 5 p.m.

The cyclists were part of a motorcade including law enforcement vehicles greeting well-wishers along the route.Several cyclists expressed their desire to be part of it as they left the airport at the end of the procession.

Brad and April McWilliams came to support veterans, April said, noting they had ridden for other veteran-related events, such as fundraising poker runs, but never "for something like this."

Brad McWilliams said they were alerted to the event through Sons of AMVETS Post 26 in Mansfield.

Another motorcycle organization, Eagle Riders, came from Wellington and Elyria to participate.

"It's an honor to do this," said Steve Leimbach of Wellington.

Traveling Wall brings back a lot of memories for veterans

Joe Dzurinda, a 1969-1970 veteran of the Vietnam War and member of the Grafton VFW post, said, "It brings back a lot of memories" from visiting the wall in Washington D.C. and looking up the names of friends. It is an honor to be here."

Through a Facebook post alerting them to potential participation, George Waseity said he and other members of the Stark County Combat Veterans Association were invited to participate.

"Some of us are Vietnam veterans," he said, adding it was an honor to lead the group. "There are still a lot of people who don't understand what happened in Vietnam − the sacrifices made. The hope," he said, is they will come to recognize them.

Eagle rider Julia Tudor expressed appreciation for the Traveling Wall exhibit enabling people who can't make the trip to Washington, D.C., to experience it.

Ann Schar, a member of the Ashland County Veterans Appreciation Day committee, watched the processional from Claremont Avenue near Corner Park in Ashland as the cavalcade proceeded to turn onto Main Street on its way to the airport.

Her husband, Tim, who accompanied her, is a Vietnam veteran, she said.

Having served from 1968 to 1969, he said, "We have finally started to get some recognition for all the veterans." Calling the tribute "emotional," he said. "Better late than never."

"It was great," said Diane Moritz of Nashville, Ohio, after the procession left Claremont Avenue. "I just thought it was great idea for the town doing something."

Her husband, Roger Moritz, said the motorcyclists "came for a good cause, as a way to get everybody to come in (for the event). "I like honoring the veterans and what they've done for us so that we can be free."

Ann Schar said the committee meets twice a year and holds special events. Schar sent postcards to 240 Ashland County Vietnam Veterans to alert them to the the tribute and Veterans Appreciation Day.

About the Traveling Wall

One of the highlights of the wall exhibit, 80% of the size of the Washington, D.C. wall, is that every single name is also on the replica.

A master book will be manned 24/7 for the exhibit after its 5 p.m., Aug. 3 opening so that people can find the names of friends and family members on the wall display.

Schar and Miller gave special credit to Tim Chandler, a veteran of the Air Force and coordinator of Ashland County Veterans Appreciation Day, for organizing the event and taking care of all of the details.

People watching the procession, including Jimmy and Chastity Steward who waited in Corner Park for it to begin, appreciated the tribute.

Jimmy Steward was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, an Army base, from 1987-1991. He and his wife each have relatives who have served or are serving in the military.

Jimmy Steward's father and grandfather, Charles Backensto and Carson Vincent, served in Vietnam. Chastity Steward said her nephew joined the Navy, and two of her nieces are married to men in the military, one in the Air Force and one in the Army. Her brother-in-law is also in the Air Force.

She said she had never attended anything like the tribute in Ashland and was both excited and curious.

Ashland football team to help set up the wall

"It is an honor," she said, enthusiastic as well about the participation of her son, Brandon Ford, a senior on the Ashland football team.

Ashland City School District Board member Pam Mowry and Superintendent Steve Paramore talked at the July meeting of the board about the district's participation, including members of the football team helping to set up the wall display.

Paramore said at the meeting he wanted veterans to know the younger generation and people in the community appreciate them.

"It is important to the legacy of Ashland High School," Paramore said at the meeting. "It is the least we can do," in honoring many alumni who served, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Ashland Mayor Matt Miller stood with a group holding American flags in front of City Hall, waving to processional participants as they passed by.

"One of the best parts of living in Ashland," Miller said, is the patriotism of its residents.

Whenever there is an event that is "red, white, and blue," he said, Ashlanders show up to support it and demonstrate "their love for the men and women who throughout history have fought and died for freedom."

"It is a matter of remembrance for me," said Commissioner James Justice, "for all the people who didn't make it back," included a friend of his in his youth, Terry Schaub, from their hometown of Hayesville.

"It is showing a sign of respect," Justice said.

John Hall, a retired banker from Wooster, said he came to help his friend Wes Shivers, a driver for American Veterans Traveling Tribute.

"We haven't seen each other in 30 years," Hall said.

Shivers, with whom he served in Somalia, now drives the traveling tribute wall in its trailer all over the country.The company employing Shivers owns two of the four walls touring the country.

"It is very sobering," Shivers acknowledged, but meaningful, especially for those "who haven't had a chance to get to D.C.," he said.

The owner of American Veterans Traveling Tribute, Don Allen, a retired lieutenant colonel who served in Vietnam, counts it as "a legacy that is near and dear to him," Shivers said.

The wall display, composed of about 200 panels to be set up Thursday morning, is also important to the Ashland County Airport, whose manager, Dennis Baum, said, "I've wanted to have it out here for years. "We finally got it," he said, commending the efforts of Chandler.

Explaining what it means to her, Tracie Baum said, "It just … " not finishing her sentence, but instead touching her heart. "I hope everybody enjoys it and remembers what it's for."

The traveling escort included the Ashland County Sheriff's Office, Ashland Police Department, Richland County Sheriff's Office and Mansfield Police Department, said Ashland County Deputy Sheriff, Lt. Randy Wood.

Ashland County Veterans Appreciation Day is Saturday at the airport.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Traveling Vietnam Wall at Ashland airport for Veterans Appreciation Day