GRAYSON —
A small army of people will be needed to help in Grayson when the American Veterans Traveling Tribute arrives with an 80-percent scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial.
Many are already planning to escort the memorial from the parking lot at Flying J travel plaza near exit 185 of I-64 shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to Volunteers of America spokesman Craig Riffle.
“Once we get here, volunteers will be needed for a lot of things. It takes a minimum of 10 people to assemble it ... and more than that is better. We will also need people to help take it apart and we need people to stay with it 24 hours a day while it is here,” Riffle said, explaining volunteers will help maintain security at the site, as well as offering assistance to anyone who shows up in the middle of the night or early morning.
“A lot of veterans, especially Vietnam veterans, are not comfortable with the crowds and want some alone time,” Riffle said.
Volunteers are not required to be veterans, Riffle said.
“We can use anybody that’s got a good heart and wants to help out,” he said, asking anyone interested in helping to call him at (606) 474-0200. Volunteers will also be needed to take the memorial apart when the exhibit closes at 4 p.m. on Sept. 3.
Riffle said the local effort to bring the traveling tribute to Grayson is still short of the goal set for fundraising. “I’d like to raise another several thousand dollars,” Riffle said, adding any excess funds will be contributed to Carter County Citizens for Veterans to be applied toward the veterans’ park in downtown Grayson. The local organization is not allowed to collect donations at the memorial site, he said, although people can contribute to the American Veterans Traveling Tribute.
The goal of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute is to “Create a forum for communities to come together to Honor, Respect and Remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country and to educate all to the Cost of Freedom.”
“I just want to encourage everyone to come out, whether they are a veteran or not,” Riffle said. “It will be a good experience. Even if someone is not a veteran, they’ll come away with something from it.”
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com.
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Vietnam memorial bound for Grayson
Volunteers needed to assemble replica, maintain security on site
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