The Moving Wall

This summer "The Moving Wall" a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC will be on display for seven days in Wilton, Maine. Wilton Blueberry festival organizer Shannon Smith has arranged for a visit of the wall to Kineowatha Park at the first of August. The wall will arrive on July 31st and will be set up the following day. Once all preperations are made it will be open for public viewing starting August 2nd and going through August 8th.

There will be an opening and closing ceremony while the wall is in town. A formal opening ceremony will take place at 7:00 PM, August 2nd which will include a color guard, speakers and a military drum tribute by Red Hawk Medicine Drums of Waterville.

The Wilton Acadamy class of 1965 is also coordinating it's opening ceremonies to honor classmate Bard Davenport, a helicopter pilot, whose name is on the wall.

A tribute to Bard on www.VirtualWall.org reads:

On the 27th of March 1969 UH-1H tail number 66-16714 was lost to hostile fire at XT 636587 in Binh Long Province, Republic of Viet Nam. Killed that day were four aircrew from C Troop, 1st Sqd, 9th Cavalry and one passenger:

• WO1 Bard Elton Davenport, pilot
• WO1 William Don Potter, copilot
• Sgt Allan G. Harper, aircrewman
• SP5 John Bussey Waller, aircrewman
• 1Lt William Brent Bell, H Co, 75th Inf (Rangers)

Davenport family members from Massachussetts are expected to attend, as will relatives of Leslie Dalrymple, another Wilton Native, who died in November 1969 and who is also listed on the wall.
 

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Also from Wilton and listed on the wall is Leslie Dalrymple. A tribute to Leslie is also available on www.VirtualWall.org. It reads:

Alpha 2/60th Infantry lost two men on 20 Nov 1969: SGT Billy R. Marshall of Ruston, LA, and CPL Leslie A. Dalrymple.
 

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Shannon is looking for volunteers to guard the wall and act as guides 24 hours a day during it's 9 day stay. A number of organizations have already offered their time.
 

Farmington Rotary Club Farmington Emblem Club Farmington American legion post Weld American Legion post Wilton Fire Department Sandy River Young Marines   and   Wilton Boy Scout Troop  Temple Boy Scout Troop  Farmington Boy Scout Troop

Some of the groups have committed to several hours, some full days. But she still needs more help. Volunteers can sign up to work as long as they'd like, she said. If you or your Troop are interested (or if you know of anyone that is) please contact Shannon Smith at 778-4726 or e-mail her at scsmith@prexar.com for more information.