Jack Bittner scanned the wall.
Like many others at the opening ceremony for the replica of the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, and the millions who have traveled to Washington D.C. to see the memorial, he hoped to honor a childhood friend.
Bittner, a retired U.S. Army Corporal, found his friend Gary Falk and used the charcoal and cards given out at the memorial to etch in the memory of his friend, a fallen soldier.
For Bittner, a Bellevue resident who came from Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and others, the traveling memorial that opened at Sunset Hills Memorial Park Friday morning provided a means to honor friends and relatives for those who haven’t made it to the wall in the nation’s capitol.
Free and open to the public 24 hours a day from July 1 through July 4, the three-quarter 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.
“The monument was created as a service to those who might never travel to the nation’s capital to experience the Vietnam Veterans Memorial firsthand,” said Arne Swanson, director of Dignity Memorial providers in the Seattle area. “Our replica offers visitors a chance for healing and reflections, and we are very pleased to be able to share it with the community.”
Activities and ceremonies planned in conjunction with the exhibition included:
A motorcade, led by Patriot Guard Riders and other riders from area motorcycle clubs, began just inside the Washington state line along Interstate 5 beginning at approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday to escort the replica to Sunset Hills Memorial Park, where it arrived at 2 p.m.
The Opening Ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. July 1.
The colors will be posted each day at 10 a.m. and retired each day at 5 p.m.
Starting at 1 p.m. on July 3, a service will be held featuring local groups, including the Honor Guard from the VFW Post 2995 and the United States Volunteers. The guest speaker will be Dick Freeman of the 49th Infantry Scout Dog Platoon as Handler assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, Long Bien, Vietnam.
The Closing Ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. on July 4.
Sunset Hills is located at 1215 145th Place S.E. Additional parking will be available at Sammamish High School on 140th Avenue Southeast. More information is available at 425-746-1400.
