Today is the fifth National Vietnam War Veterans Day, and the Indiana County Historical & Genealogical Society will be host to its second annual program to commemorate the occasion this evening.
The doors will open at 5:30 and the program will begin at 6 o’clock at the Society’s home on the point on Wayne Avenue. The event will include a proclamation from the county; a pinning ceremony for Vietnam veterans and for the survivors of vets who have passed away; a keynote presentation by Dr. J. David Truby, who will speak about Jimmy Stewart and Vietnam; and the unveiling of a special new mobile memorial tribute.
Jonathan Bogert of the Historical & Genealogical Society says the new display, which can be taken to schools and other venues, was developed from “The Wall That Heals,” the mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall that tours the nation and stopped several years ago in Indiana.
Indiana County Sheriff Bob Fyock, who served in Vietnam, says veterans of the war still deal with the dark memories of their time in the war, and of their return home to American.
Everyone is invited to the event, but especially Vietnam War vets and their families, even if they have not RSVP’d that they are coming. Graystone Presbyterian Church has offered its parking lot at 640 Church Street for attendees and Jack Lucas of Hilltop Baptist Church will be running a shuttle from the Graystone lot to the event.
The sponsors of tonight’s event are American Legion Post 141, American Legion Auxiliary Post 141, VFW Post 1989, and the Indiana County Historical & Genealogical Society.
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