Don't pay to see Dignity Memorial Wall, you already paid the price!

Once again an email came from part of my network of friends making sure I don't miss anything when it comes to our veterans. This one came in and it shocked me. There are many different ones traveling around the country. They are not all the same because they money made goes to different people. They operate on donations, not charging people to see them.

Just last month the Wall was at the Melbourne reunion. While there were many other things going on, the Wall was in a place all by itself, away from people making money, away from noise, where people could really pay respect to the names of those who sacrificed their lives. Asking people to pay to pay their respects is like charging them to go into a cemetery to visit a family member resting there.

Tickets on sale soon ....

NEW THIS YEAR! The General Admission area will be OPEN for the Friday Night Show. Purchase your reserve seat, come early and visit the exhibits, see the static displays and walk along the amazing Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall! This is a great opportunity to visit the Entertainment Center without the crazy crowds you'll see on Saturday and Sunday! Check out our ticket specials as well to take great advantage of the best entertainment value this summer!

Looking for tickets for a group or company? Then be sure to check out our Chalet programs that we also offer! Chalets are a great way to privately entertain just about any size group. It's the perfect solution for a company party, family reunion or really "wowing" those VIP clients!

Advance ticket sales end Thursday, August 27th at 5:00 pm.

GATE TIMES:
FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 28 : Gates open at 6:00pm, show starts at 7:15pm
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 : Gates open at 9:00am, show starts at 11:00am
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 : Gates open at 9:00am, show starts at 11:00am

General Admission

Watch the show from the general admission area located off the flight line with easy access to concessions and the entertainment area. No seats are provided, so bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the show!

In honor of the many that have served our country The Oregon International Air Show will be giving FREE general admission all weekend long to all who are presently serving, or have served, in the military. This includes all active, retired and honorably discharged military. Just bring your DD214 or miliitary ID and a drivers license or other state-issued picture identification with you to the Show and you will be admitted at no charge.

Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most-visited National Park Service site in Washington, D.C. Even so, millions of Americans will never see or experience the impact of "The Wall" in their lives. To allow more people this opportunity, Dignity Memorial network providers created a three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the memorial in 1990.

Known as the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, this faux-granite replica is dedicated to all Americans who served in Vietnam and honors all servicemen and women of the United States military forces. Each year the replica crisscrosses the country, allowing millions of visitors to see and touch its black, mirror-like surface inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam. Every exhibition is sponsored by a local Dignity Memorial provider, with the help and support of area veterans groups and civic organizations.
This program is only available in the United States.

http://www.dignitymemorial.com/DignityMemorial/VietnamWall.aspx

UPDATE From Larry over at Nam-Vet
Dignity Memorial won't be part of Air Show
Larry,

Thank you for sharing your concerns with us regarding the location of the Dignity Memorial® Vietnam Wall in Portland.

For the last four years, Dignity Memorial providers have been a corporate sponsor of the Veteran’s Chalet at the Oregon International Air Show, annually hosting at no charge 300 Veterans and their guests to enjoy the Air Show as honored guests. Last year, Dignity Memorial providers and Air Show organizers began to explore the possibility of showcasing the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall as a special exhibit at the 2009 Air Show.

However, we have received expressions of disappointment from many Veterans that within the Air Show gates, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall will not be free to all people as it has been in Portland and other cities in the past. We obviously misjudged the response of the Veteran community to this first partnership with an admission-based venue. We have heard clearly the voices of the Veterans disappointed in the decision to include the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall as an exhibit within the Oregon International Air Show, and we apologize to any Veterans offended by this decision. We researched placing our exhibit outside the Air Show gates but logistics, security and space limitations prevented this from being a viable option. Therefore, the decision was made to withdraw the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall exhibit from the Air Show.

go here for the rest

http://nam-vet.net/dignity_retained.htm