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Traveling Vietnam Wall Comes To Topeka

By Brian Hagen

08/27/2014

(MSC News)--A unique opportunity, capturing history while remembering those who served, comes to Topeka, as the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Wall will visit the Museum of the Kansas National Guard at Forbes Field/Topeka Regional Airport beginning this week.

Tad Pritchett is a Vietnam Veteran and author. An officer in the Marine Corp League in Topeka, he served on the committee that helped bring the exhibit to the area.

Pritchett, who was with the 3rd Marine Division when he served in Vietnam from the fall of 1968 through the end of 1969, says seeing the wall up close brings a wide range of emotions. “When I look at the Vietnam Wall, all I see are the heroes of Vietnam. The rest of us just came home, but those are the heroes,” Pritchett tells MSC News. “When I look at the names, I don't just see the names, but I see the families who lost a loved one and I see all the veterans who have come home. We ask ourselves our whole lives why were we the ones that came home and they weren't?”

The Traveling Wall is an 80 percent scale version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. It will be on display, at 6700 SW Topeka Boulevard, from 12 Noon on Thursday until 3:00 on the afternoon of Sunday.

Each day will include opening and closing ceremonies along with special events and featured speakers.