The Moving Wall: St. Peters, Missouri, July 9-15, 1988
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Photos and narrative contributed by By Michele Viehman
The first appearance of the Moving Wall in the state of Missouri
was sponsored in 1988 by the burgeoning city of St. Peters,
approximately 20 miles due west of St. Louis. The replica served
as the primary attraction in a week-long slate of "Welcome Home"
festivities coordinated by the ladies' auxiliaries of area VFWs,
AMVETS, American Legion posts, and the Vietnam Veterans for
Homecoming II (a group of local vets and others concerned with
promoting awareness of prisoners of war and soldiers missing in
action).
Activities included an opening-day parade, daily
presentations by a variety of speakers, information booths, and
entertainment. Launching the celebration was the three-day
Vietnam veterans reunion held in nearby Old Towne Park: estimated
attendance for the weekend gathering exceeded 5,000 Vietnam
veterans and their families from throughout the Midwest.
In addition to the estimated 20,000 persons-per-day who visited
the site intentionally, an undetermined number of persons
travelling Interstate 70 spotted the Moving Wall as it was
displayed on a bluff overlooking the highway and took advantage
of the unanticipated opportunity to pay their respects.
Here are some additional pictures of the Moving Wall at St. Peters, Missouri: