Veterans Invade Melbourne

'Largest veterans reunion' brings tens of thousands to Melbourne
News 13
By Jerry Hume, Brevard County Reporter
April 23, 2015

MELBOURNE -- Tens of thousands of people are making their way to the Space Coast on Thursday for an event that is being billed as the largest veterans reunion in the country.

The 28th annual Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion will take place at Wickham Park in Melbourne.

The centerpiece of the reunion is the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

The traveling wall, which was made in Brevard County, has traveled about 160,000 miles across the United States.

"It affects everybody differently — family members are moved one way, friends another," said Greg Welsh, the chairman of the event. "Just a Vietnam veteran could be moved someway else. It's an emotional experience for most people when they come out here."

Event organizers expect about 100,000 people to show up for Thursday's reunion, which will fill up local campgrounds and hotels. 

The reunion was originally designed just for Vietnam veterans, but it has expanded in its 28 years. Now, all veterans are invited to show up and remember friends and family members who were killed while fighting for the U.S.
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