Veterans memorial wall comes to county this week

o What: American Veterans Traveling Tribute, which includes a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and exhibits honoring those who died in other wars from World War II to the present-day conflicts. The event will also include music, guest speakers, candlelight vigils, food vendors, a military car show and other activities.

o When: 6 p.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Sunday, open 24 hours a day.

o Where: Holley Park (formerly La Center City Park), 1000 E. Fourth St., La Center.

o Cost: Free, donations accepted.

o Website: lacenterhonorsvets.info.

Hundreds of volunteer and city staff hours of organizing, preparing and fundraising will come to fruition Wednesday with the arrival of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute in La Center.

And the arrival of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica will not be without fanfare.

The exhibit will be escorted by 300 to 500 motorcycle riders from various veterans groups and local police. La Center residents and visitors will line the streets waving small American flags. And once assembled in Holley Park (formerly La Center City Park), area residents will have five days to admire the replica wall and other memorials honoring those who died in wars from World War II to the present-day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Thirty-six million people have fought for the U.S. since the Revolutionary War to give us our freedoms,” said Tim Hopkin, La Center police chief, Vietnam veteran and event organizer. “This is in honor of all of that.”

The exhibit and escort will depart at 2 p.m. Wednesday from the truck scale on Interstate 5 North between Exit 14 and Exit 16 and proceed into La Center.

Flags will be available for spectators at participating businesses, City Hall and the police department after 9 a.m. Wednesday. A brief ceremony will take place at Holley Park, 1000 E. Fourth St., upon the exhibit’s arrival.

Around the clock

The exhibit takes four hours to assemble. Once complete, the exhibit will be open 24 hours a day until 5 p.m. Sunday.

“There’s a lot of vets that can only come out at night to do this — the solemnness, they don’t want to be around the crowds. It’s a special time,” Hopkin said.

Hopkin, a volunteer committee and the city of La Center have dedicated many hours and thousands of dollars to the event. About half of the $25,000 needed to host the event was raised in donations; the remainder was paid by the city. About 200 people have signed up to volunteer at the event, which runs through Sunday.

“The fact that these volunteers are willing to step up and be at the wall, it means so much to us,” Hopkin said.

Anyone who still wishes to volunteer at the event should just show up and ask what they can do to help, he said.

The volunteer committee has dedicated the event to the memory of Harley H. Hall, a Vancouver pilot whose fighter jet was shot down just hours before the end of the Vietnam War. The U.S. government has declared Hall “presumed killed in action.” Hall’s sister, Gwen Davis-Hall, will serve as the grand marshal of the event.

In addition to the memorial displays, the five-day event will include live music, food vendors and special ceremonies. A Vietnam-era Huey helicopter will be on display during the event and a military car show will take place Friday and Saturday.

Other event ceremonies include:

• 1 p.m. Thursday — Gold Star Mothers’ presentation of wreaths; candlelight vigil at dusk.

• 1 p.m. Friday — Law enforcement and firefighter ceremony; candlelight vigil at dusk.

• Noon Saturday — American veterans ceremony; 12:15 p.m. helicopter fly-over; candlelight vigil at dusk.

• 10 a.m. Sunday — Sunday service; 2 p.m. freedom ride.

Pancake breakfasts will be offered at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, sponsored by the La Center Lions Club and Clark County Fire and Rescue. All events take place in the park.

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.