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Plans coming together for Moving Wall
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and Vietnam Medal of Honor winner Col. Bernie Fisher (USAF ret.), will highlight the list of dignitaries expected to speak at the opening ceremonies of The Moving Wall when in comes to Mountain Home in mid-June.
The Moving Wall is a half-scale replica of the national Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, containing the names of all those lost in action during the conflict in southeast Asia. The wall will arrive on June 14, escorted from the Idaho border by law enforcement officials and the Idaho Motorcycle Club, with a dip through Glenns Ferry on it way to Mountain Home that day.
On June 15 volunteers will erect the wall in Carl Miller Park.
Opening ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m. on June 16 with a prayer by the LDS Church's 1st Ward representative and a missing man formation flyover by aircraft from Mountain Home AFB.
Fisher, who was one of the early Medal of Honor recipients in Vietnam, will tell his story, the first of many local veterans who have volunteered to describe their experiences in the war. The vets will begin their speeches at 1 p.m. on June 16, and each day thereafter that the wall is in place here.
Fisher won his medal, the nation's highest award for bravery, when his wingman was shot down and crash landed on the airstrip of a firebase that had been overrun by the enemy. Fisher landed his Skyhawk on the enemy-held runway, ran across it under heavy fire, pulled his fellow pilot from his plane, then dragged him back to his own plane and took off again.
Events June 17-21, will open with a flyover from the National Guard helicopters, under the plans currently being proposed for the ceremonies that will take place each day the wall is in Mountain Home.
Each day, there will be prayers, and each day's ceremonies will end with the reading of the names of the 40 Idahoans who lost lives in the war at 9:15 p.m. each night, just before the flag in the park is lowered to half staff and Taps is played.
Fire Chief Phil Gridley, who is in charge of organizing the daily events, is still seeking area church choirs to perform at the ceremonies, and local ministers to provide prayers.
Donations also are being sought to help defray some of the expenses associated with bringing The Moving Wall to Mountain Home. Contact the Chamber of Commerce if you'd like to help. The initial funding to acquire the wall was provided by the Air Force Appreciation Day Committee.
Randy Valley is serving as chairman of The Moving Wall Committee.
The wall will be taken down on June 22, and sent on to its next destination.