Group seeks to bring Moving Wall to area

NEWPORT — The Hospitality House in Newport is aiming to bring the Moving Wall to the region in July.

The wall, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be in Newport from July 15-20. Also in July, the veterans outreach center will be hosting a veterans stand down, planned for July 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Newport High School. At last year’s stand down, 349 veterans in the region received services, a meal, camaraderie and needed surplus clothing, boots and sleeping bags.

“Bringing the wall to Newport will give our local and regional Vietnam veterans a touchstone to their comrades and a chance to heal,” Brad Hanson of Hospitality House said. “They will also be able to share their love for those that were lost with their children and grandchildren.”

To help bring the Moving Wall to the region, Hanson said the center is seeking donations. He estimates it will cost Hospitality House between $7,000 to $8,000 to ship and set up the wall, with $2,500 due before the first of the year. The outreach center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible.

While in Newport, the wall will be available to visit 24 hours a day from July 16-20, 2020. Security and volunteers to help those visiting find the names of their loved ones and fellow soldiers and counselors from the Spokane VA Medical Center will be on hand to speak to those who need someone to talk to.

Hanson said the center’s board felt was important to honor those who served in the Vietnam War and to pay tribute to those who died in service to their country. An estimate 58,220 soldiers — men and women — died while serving in the war.

“For many of the veterans and their families that war still isn’t over,” he said in a press release announcing the fundraising effort to bring the Moving Wall to the area. “They relive the sights and sounds of battle, the death of their comrades or for the families the moment that an officer in their dress uniform knocked on the door and told them that their loved one was not coming home.”

However, not Vietnam veterans were welcomed home at that time. “No matter your position on the Vietnam War, those that died and those that served are deserving of our honor and respect,” he said.

The Moving Wall allows veterans a chance to heal and for the community, it offers a link to those soldiers who didn’t come home and those who returned in a flag draped coffin,” he said. “Each of those heroes names are engraved on the wall, It is an emotional sledgehammer just to see in stone the cost of that war.”

It isn’t uncommon, Hanson said, for veterans who seek out and touch the names of their friends to break down in tears, but noted they are cleansing tears as veterans finally are able lay their brothers to rest in their minds. For the families of those who were lost, the visit becomes a positive affirmation as they see their loved ones names honored by their placement on this memorial.

“Bringing the wall to Newport is a huge commitment for the Hospitality House but we feel that to honor our veterans in this way will be a great benefit to our community as a whole,” said Hanson.

For more information or to send a donation, Hospitality House can be reached at P.O. Box 802, Newport, WA 99156; on site at 216 S. Washington Ave, Newport; by phone at 509-447-3812; or by email at hhseniorcenter@gmail.com.