Greg Welsh, manager of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall

Veteran hauler stands tall for the Vietnam Wall
Memorial replica now at Landers Center

By Henry Bailey
Posted May 12, 2012

PHOTO BY STAN CARROLL Greg Welsh, manager of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, salutes during the National Anthem at the Wall's opening ceremony.

Greg Welsh of Cocoa, Fla., is a stand-up guy for the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall -- on view this weekend in Southaven -- even as he oversees its take-down and transport across the country.

The Vietnam veteran and Air Force retiree hauls the replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington in a "dually" truck across the country for its Florida nonprofit owners, the Vietnam and All Veterans group of Brevard. It's a duty that he's cherished since this Wall, one of a number of replicas, was built in 2005.

"I'm basically the keeper of these names, for all the people who come to see them," he said on the Landers Center grounds, where the Wall arrived Wednesday and is the focus of DeSoto County's tribute to all Vietnam-era veterans. Visitation and all events are free.

The county's main salute program is today at 10 a.m. inside the Landers Center with Chancellor Percy Lynchard as speaker. The closing ceremony with former Democratic state representative John Mayo of Clarksdale speaking will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Wall; people at this event should bring their own chairs.
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Here are a couple of videos on the reunion