Vietnam Veterans Memorial, bringing home the wall
Veterans Day weekend is upon us.
No better time for me to introduce to you a couple of my friends and their Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Tom and Dee Twigg of St. Cloud Florida began the project back in 1996.
They were at a Pow Wow for Thanksgiving and had set up a table with a chair that had only a uniform to honor those missing in action and prisoner of war.
A elderly women in a wheelchair approached the table. She had with her a Bronze Star and Purple Heart medal with citations that had belonged to her son who lost his life in the Vietnam war. She told them that because of her failing health, she feared that she would not be able to make it to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. She wanted to leave the items at the table in his memory.
Dee Twigg told the woman to hold on to the medals for one year and they would bring the wall to her so that she could leave it there. Tom and Dee began constructing a small replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall and returned to the same Pow Wow the next year. The woman was there with her son’s medal and laid them at the base of the wall in his remembrance. It was a very touching sight for the Twiggs and from that came the idea of Bringing Home the Wall.
The original wall that Tom and Dee created was on white paper and framed in panels to replicate the original wall in Washington DC. The concept was created when the Twiggs saw that there were many that simply could not get out to see a traveling wall, much less make the trip to Washington DC. So they have created a Vietnam Veterans Memorial that can be displayed indoors at Veteran’s hospitals and nursing homes. Places where there are people that are not able to get out because of health and/or financial abilities.
I met Tom and Dee at their display they had setup during Bike Week 2005 in Daytona Beach, Florida. My wife and I stopped in to take a few pictures for our Bike Week site and talked with the couple for a few minutes. As we walked away from the wall, we discussed what nice people we had met and wanted to help them. We turned around and discussed a web site for their cause. Turned out that they did not have one. Because web design is something that I do, we offered to build and host a web site as our donation toward helping the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We have become close friends since that day and we try to get out to help and show support wherever the wall is being displayed.
The wall has been completely redesigned by Tom and Dee to look even more like the actual Vietnam Memorial. The wall now stands almost 8 foot tall at the tallest point and is printed on black laminated plastic with white lettering. The new wall was constructed and designed by the Twiggs in May of 2006 with very little financial aid to them. The only financial aid that the Twiggs receive is that of the modest donation jar that they put up at the wall during public displays. Usually the amount taken in is short of covering the expenses of transporting and setting up the wall.
This weekend on November 11th you are invited to come out and visit the wall. The Bringing Home the Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be set up at the Lakeland City Center for you to visit. The wall will be escorted in to town by the U.S. Military Vets MC and there is to be a candle light walk to the wall at 6:30 pm. You can find more information on the Lakeland City Veteran’s Day activities at the City of Lakeland web site. They are calling the day A Celebration of Heroes and it will include musical entertainment, a parade and a welcome home for troops returning form the 116th and 495th. Come on out and show your support for the returning troops and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
My wife and I will be on location all day to take photographs of the event. If you can’t make it this weekend for Veteran’s Day, then please visit my friend’s web site Bringing Home the Wall and sign the guestbook there. There is also a place on their web site where you can show appreciation for their efforts with a donation using Pay Pal. If you stop by this weekend be sure to look for me and let me know that you read about the event on my blog and thanks to all that visit and read it!
Video from Lakeland Veteran’s Day
Technorati Tags: vietnam, the wall, memorial, veterans
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November 12th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
We had a wonderful Veterans Day parade in Lakeland and the candle light walk to the wall with a bagpipe player was very touching. Article and pictures are in the works.
Thanks to the U.S. Military Vets MC and the Polk County Sheriff for escorting the wall into town.
November 10th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
I am the proud daughter of a MARINE! My beloved favorite brother-in-law is also a former MARINE with seventeen years service. Brother-in-law did two Vietnam tours. My house has a hugh MARINE flag and the traditional Am. Flag on each side of the garage door. I have a Marine flag and smaller Am. Flag in my flower garden. Today is the MARINES birthday. I am thankful for our men and women in the Armed Forces. I think of the many who served before our time.I pray for our forces to get home safe and soon. We should “ALL” be proud of our military……even though most do not agree with our commander-and-chief. This commander because he was from a rich family stayed in the USA and did have to go to Vietnam!!!I believe this past election showed people want our soldiers home. We gave up a while ago on the weapons of mass destruction being found. We have all decided that weapons of mass destruction did not exist. Today I was reading about Pat Tillman who gave up a multi million dollar conract to play in the NFL but instead enlisted to be a RANGER and a big pay cut. His death was needless and reports show they had inadequate supplies…..even food and water inadequate. What a remarkable man Pat Tillman was inspiration to all. Say a kind word of thanks and appreciation if you know a former or present serviceman.
see a current or former soilder. “SEMPER FI”!!!!!!!
January 8th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Nice site actually. Gone to my favourites. Thanks for creation.
January 8th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Thank You Jack!
I have forwarded the comment to the site owners Tom and Dee Twigg.
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:51 am
First time I visited this site. What truly wonderful people Mikeand his wife Cindy are. This is all done from their hearts. I wish the corporations who thrive because of the vets were as generous so we could give other vets that need it some closure. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU, Mike and Cindy for all your hard work.
December 16th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Tom!
Thanks for visiting and the kind words. Still trying to get caught up.
Merry Christmas to You, Dee and Family