Traveling Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Comes to Portland

Community Invited to Pay Respects to America’s War Veterans

Previous visit if the wall to Oregon; photo by Tim King

(PORTLAND, OR) - The Dignity Memorial^® Vietnam Wall, a three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be open for public viewing November 9 – 12 at Skyline Memorial Gardens, 4101 Northwest Skyline Boulevard in Portland, Ore. For more information, please visit www.DMVietnamWall.com/Portland or call 503-292-6611.

Free and open to the public 24 hours a day from Friday, November 9 through Monday, November 12 the replica is eight feet high and 240 feet long. Its black, reflective surface is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who died or are missing in Vietnam. Paper and pencils will be provided so visitors can make rubbings of names etched on the wall.

“The monument was created as a service to those who might never travel to the nation’s capital to experience the Vietnam Veterans Memorial firsthand,” said JC Aubry, area director for Dignity Memorial providers in Portland. “Our replica offers visitors a chance for healing and reflections, and we are very pleased to be able to share it with the community.”

Activities and ceremonies planned in conjunction with the exhibition include the following:

• Beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 6, riders from local motorcycle clubs will stage at Lincoln Memorial Park, 11801 SE Mt. Scott Boulevard., in Portland and plan to leave at 10 a.m. to escort the replica to Skyline Memorial Gardens, where it is scheduled to arrive at 1 p.m.

• Visits to the Wall on Thursday, November 8 will be restricted to pre-registered school programs. Schools are invited to schedule a time to bring their classes to see the Wall. Contact Natasha at 503-292-6611 for your school to participate.

• The Wall officially opens at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 9.

• The Opening Ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 9. The ceremony will feature remarks by Major General Rees.

• Starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 10, visitors are welcome to experience Starlight and Stripes, a tribute to MIAs and POWs.

• Monday, November 12 at 9:45 a.m. marks the start to the Ross Hollywood Chapel Veterans Parade. Please visit www.VeteransDayPDX.org for information.

• The Closing Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Monday, November 12 followed by the official closing of the Wall at 5 p.m.

All remaining proceeds will be donated to the Salvation Army for use with veterans programs.

For more information on the activities and ceremonies planned in conjunction with the exhibition, please visit www.DMVietnamWall.com/Portland.

Dedicated to all Americans who served in Vietnam and honoring all veterans of the U.S. military, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall was created by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers in 1990. To date, the replica has traveled to more than 200 cities across the country and has been visited by millions of Americans.

“Dignity Memorial providers consider it an honor to serve those who served our country,” Aubry said. “The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is just one of many efforts of the Dignity Memorial network to honor and support our nation’s veterans and active military personnel.” Other initiatives and programs include the Veterans Planning Guide, the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program, educational veterans seminars and special pricing and benefits for members of three veterans service organizations.

The Dignity Memorial network of more than 1,800 funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers is North America’s most trusted resource for funeral and memorialization services. Dignity Memorial providers offer an unmatched combination of products and locations serving families with care, integrity, respect and service excellence. For more information, visit www.DignityMemorial.com.