Memorial Vietnam Wall

Behind the Wall: Bill Talley, An American Hero

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:03:00 GMT

Pilot William “Bill” Talley knew his plane was going down. He just wanted to get as far away from the North Vietnamese village below while he still could. And he wanted to get on the other side of the rocky
hills before he collided with them.

The scarlet sky was thick with exploding Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) and antiaircraft fire. This was typical for missions around the Hanoi area of North Vietnam, but it still made Bill’s blood pressure rise and his heart rate speed. His 561^st squadron, the Wild Weasels, would seek out the mobile SAM sites and destroy them. Major Bill Talley was flying a special-equipped, two-place F-105 jet fighter bomber. His Electronic Warfare Officer, affectionately called his Bear, navigated from the back. Their mission was to support a strike force of approximately 24 fighter bombers with targets throughout Hanoi.

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Final Program Schedule for the Wall

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:07:00 GMT

Dignity Memorial funeral, cremation and cemetery providers created a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. , as a service to those who might never visit the nation’s capital to experience “The Wall” firsthand. Dedicated to Vietnam veterans and honoring all U.S. service-men and women, the three quarter scale, faux granite replica is a 240 feet long, eight feet high and contains the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam. It brings healing to veterans, awareness to younger generations and contemplation to all who gaze into its reflective surface.

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Piedmont on Fox 25 Morning News

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:41:00 GMT

Fox 25 Morning News

Publication Date : 6/25/2009 7:57:00 AM

Watch the video here!

Click "Preview" when the new window opens.

Welcome back. The time is 8:216789 its one of the most emotional sights located in heart of our nations capitol. The vietnam memorial is a tribute to those who lost their lives in that war. You get a chance to see a replica of it in oklahoma city. This is pretty interesting. Joining us now in studio b to talk about the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall we have jeremy sparks. Jeremy thanks for joining us. Thank you for having us. Tell us a little bit about this wall. Its not as big as the other one. But its not too far off. Thats correct. Its a three quarter size replica. But it has all the names, over 58,000 men and women who lost their lives for our freedom today. All those names are listed on the wall.

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Motorcycle Brigade Vietnam Wall

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:08:00 GMT

Dear Piedmont Citizens,

On Wednesday, July 1st at about 6:30 p.m. the Dignity Memorial^® Vietnam Wall, followed by a Motorcycle Brigade, will be coming into town on Piedmont Rd. from the El Reno VFW. They will be ending at Stout Field where the three-quarter size replica of the Vietnam Memorial will be delivered.

Would you please line Piedmont Road from the City Stop to the Elementary School to welcome the Dignity Memorial^® Vietnam Wall to Piedmont ?

It should be quite a spectacle!

Thank you for your enthusiasm and interest.

Sincerely,

The Executive Steering Committee,

Jeremy Sparks

Eric Anderson

Ken Dickerson

Leon Meyer

John Bickerstaff

PS: A Purple Heart Ceremony follows later the night of the 1st at 9 PM. The Dignity Memorial^® Vietnam Wall will be ready for all to see July 2nd through 5th.

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Motorcycle Brigade Escorts Wall

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:48:00 GMT

A motorcycle escort of thousands of riders following a semitrailer transporting the Dignity Memorial^® Vietnam Wall, a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, to Piedmont High School ’s Stout Field near the intersection of OK-Highway 4 and Edmond Road in Piedmont , Okla.

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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:27:00 GMT

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO READ

ALL 58,000+ NAMES ON THE WALL

We will be reading all 58,000+ names that are listed on the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall and we need your help!

There will be two readers reading every other name in 15 minute intervals. A small PA system will be used to broadcast the names very low and quietly into the background.

If you can help read the names of our Fallen Heroes, please contact Brooke Kuns ASAP by email brookek@piedmont-ok.gov.

Thank you,

Amy Lawter

Amylawter@sbcglobal.net

Co Chair Publicity Committee

Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall

Piedmont, Oklahoma

405-203-6672

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Wall - Schedule of Events

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:34:00 GMT

Draft 6/12/09

WEDNESDAY

JULY 1, 2009

4:00 PM – Staging of Motorcycles – VFW in El Reno

6:00 PM – Depart for Piedmont – Route 66 to Yukon, then North to Piedmont on Highway 4

7:00 PM – Arrive at Stout Field – Erect Wall

9:00 PM – Purple Heart Ceremony – Wall Apex

Posting of Colors - Vietnam Veterans Oklahoma City Chapter

"Taps"

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Traveling Vietnam Wall Comes to Piedmont

Sat, 30 May 2009 15:54:00 GMT

Free and open to the public 24 hours a day from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, the replica is eight feet high and 240 feet long. Its black, reflective surface is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who died or are missing in Vietnam . Paper and pencils will be provided so visitors can make rubbings of names etched on the wall.

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Behind the Wall: Dan’s Long Nights

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:47:00 GMT

The ground was rocking like a seven point five earthquake. Whistling rockets were diving, the bunks threatened to topple as the metal hooch clanged and quivered. Shrapnel sliced into the building as though it were butter. The most terrifying part of the rocket attack was when the whistling stopped -- the two to three seconds before impact. In those seconds Dan just waited hoping the rocket wasn’t coming down on top of him.

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Behind the Wall: “The Family Serves Too,” Margaret’s Story

Sat, 30 May 2009 00:46:00 GMT

With dark blond wavy hair and a movie-star smile Larry Welsh proudly walked his bride, Margaret, down the aisle of their hometown, Kansas City, Kansas church on June 17, 1967. Margie, a beauty with straight brown hair, long eyelashes lining big dark eyes, was 20 and her high school sweetheart groom had just turned 21 the day before their wedding. Wildly in love and devoted to each other, they decided to settle in their hometown, Margie working for Dial Financial and Larry a switchman for the Santa Fe Railroad Company.

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