Traveling Vietnam Wall opens at Coatesville VA

CALN — The traveling Vietnam Wall Memorial was officially opened at the Coatesville Veteran’s Administration Hospital on Wednesday.

The wall travels around to various sites across the country and is half the size the memorial in the nation’s capital. It contains all of the names that are on the full-size memorial. The wall will remain on the hospital’s grounds on Blackhorse Hill Road near the intersection of North Caln Road until Sunday and is open 24 hours per day for the public.

The opening ceremony served as an opportunity to honor local Vietnam veterans and those who died during the war.

“We are ordinary men and women step up for the preservation of independence,” said Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war Ralph Galati. “Veterans allow all of us to continue to enjoy the blessings of freedom.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-6th, of West Pikeland, said remembrance of troops is the most fitting honor we can bestow upon them.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-7th, of Drexel Hill said he walks by the permanent memorial in the capital on numerous occasions and it is always a humbling experience.

“The idea of speaking is done by the wall itself,” Meehan said. “The story of each name on the wall speaks volumes.”

State Rep. Mark Gillen, of Berks County, is the secretary of the state House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and Emergency Preparedness. He said the wall had special meaning to him, because he had numerous neighbors when he was a child die in the war. He said the wall will also be an emotional experience for many visiting veterans.

It was an emotional time on Wednesday for Marine veteran Dan Condron, of Downingtown. He talked about how his best friend as kid died in Vietnam and he escorted his body back for his friend’s family.

“A week doesn’t go by when I don;t think of him,” an emotional Condron said.

Condron said he could never bring himself to visit the permanent memorial where the names of his childhood friend and numerous members of his platoon are etched. He said this is the second time he has seen the traveling memorial and plans to visit the permanent wall next summer.

“This was a good first step for me,” Condron said.

Air Force veteran Edward Cummings said the wall was very emotional for him, as well.

“It’s important for us to remember those who gave their lives and keep them always in our prayers and hopes,” Cummings said. “Each name is a family that hurts and tat’s powerful.”

Follow staff writer Eric S. Smith on Twitter @dailylocaleric.