The Wall Comes to Stroudsburg

Something quieter, and heavier, arrives in town this week. The Pocono Record reports that the Moving Wall, a half-size traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, goes on display at Stroudsburg High School (1100 W. Main St.) starting Thursday, July 9, arranged by Pocono Chapter 678 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

The wall itself stretches 252.8 feet across 74 panels and carries more than 58,000 names. It will stay open to visitors 24 hours a day, staffed by volunteers, until it comes down around 1 p.m. on July 13. An opening ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Friday, July 10, rain or shine, with a closing ceremony at sunset on July 12. Stroudsburg High School will be open during the day to host a memorabilia display, and paper and crayons will be provided for name rubbings. A first aid station will be on-site, and info on groups like Valor Clinic Foundation will be available. Pets, food, drinks, and vendors are not permitted at the wall itself, though benches are provided for anyone who would rather sit back than walk up close.

Andrew Milazzo, vice president of the local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter, put it simply: some who served during that era but weren't directly in combat don't always feel like "Vietnam veterans" in the traditional sense, but as he said, "we all worked together." Worth a visit, whether you knew someone whose name is on that wall or you're just teaching your kids what 58,000 names actually look like.