Kick off for Vietnam Veterans Reunion with wreaths at the Traveling Wall

Ever since we've lived in Florida, we made the trip to Melbourne for the reunion. While we make the weekend, this is the first time we went to opening ceremony. My husband is in the Nam Knights and he was part of the escort in previous years, including this one, but I was really impressed seeing the wreaths being delivered to the memorial. It was a moving experience. These are some of the pictures I snapped.

Veterans welcome Wall to Brevard
BY R. NORMAN MOODY • FLORIDA TODAY • April 20, 2009


MELBOURNE — More than three decades after the end of the Vietnam War, stories about those who didn’t make it home and the poor homecoming for those who did still draws tears, even among strangers.


Many fought back tears or dabbed at their eyes at a ceremony this evening marking the opening of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall display, a kickoff to weeklong activities for Florida’s 22nd annual Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion at Wickham Park.

Brevard County Commissioners Mary Bolin and Chuck Nelson and former Commissioner Jackie Colon all seemed to choke back tears as they spoke to a crowd of several hundreds gathered for the ceremony.

“We will never, ever allow any soldier to come back without that respect you deserve,” Colon said.

The ceremony included the laying of wreaths at the 288-foot long, 6-foot-tall wall — a three-fifths-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Fourteen-year-old Corby Givens returned Sunday from a school trip to Washington, where she saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Monday night, she helped to lay a wreath in honor of women veterans.

“I come here every year since I was born,” said the eighth-grader from Central Middle School. “It’s something that happens around my family.”

Her grandfather, Mike “JD” Givens, a Vietnam veteran, said some of his children and grandchildren have participated at different times and all have visited the memorial.
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Veterans welcome Wall to Brevard