Fingers touching James W Herrick Jr's name on the Wall

Moving Wall Memories

Medal of Honor Recipients
2007 - Present
2003 - 2006
1999 - 2002
1995 - 1998

Medal of Honor Recipients

Jon R. Cavaiani, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vietnam Training Advisory Group, Republic of Vietnam, June 4-5, 1971

Sammy L. Davis, Sergeant (then Private First Class), U.S. Army, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division, fire support base west of Cai Lay, Republic of Vietnam, November 18, 1967

James E. Swett, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Fighter Squadron 221 with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Solomon Islands area, April 7, 1943. Other Navy award: Distinguished Flying Cross with one Gold Star.

James A. Taylor, Captain (then First Lieutenant), U.S. Army, Troop B, First Cavalry, Americal Division, West of Que Son, Republic of Vietnam, November 9, 1967

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2007 - Present

Left corner (l to r) are three of the most dedicated volunteers, Bruce, Terry Marble, and Brian; Top right corner is Steve Mackey (President, Vietnam Veterans of America Riverside Chapter 47), Elayne Mackey and Bill Harden, District Commander of American Legion. Steve and Elayne were involved with every aspect of this event. They both know The Moving Wall organization, the set up and have the experience to bring the ultimate respection to this memorial.
Bottom left corner Joe Dean, (Post Commander, American Legion Post 772) brought The Moving Wall to his town Fontana, California so that he could offer the visitors "a time of reflection." Joe worked very hard to also bring his community together; and Bottom right corner Mike Kennedy, (Vice President, Vietnam Veterans of America Riverside Chapter 47) with Gary Denitto, is also a valued participant of The Moving Wall and not only organized many training sessions for the volunteers but was a "hands on" contact when issues arose at the event.

Bill Harden, District Commander of American Legion encompassing all of San Bernadino County's 28 posts, in Redlands, CA, organized The Moving Wall event after a visit to The Moving Wall hosted in San Jacinto. He was instrumental in developing an incredibly well orchestrated event. There were many volunteers, team leaders and supporters there to help but it was Bill's specific vision that wanted The Moving Wall in his hometown for everyone to appreciate it as he did a few years back. Bill is a soft-speaking gentleman and he is a real gentleman. He is passionate about his cares and causes and maybe because he endured two tours in Vietnam and understood the homeage that his city wanted to pay.

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2003 - 2006

As the somber parade of motorcycles caravan behind the security escorts, the Moving Wall slowly proceeds into the host city. It commences the patriotic celebrations organized for its five day presence on a chosen sacred site.

I watch the people congregating along the side of the road, waving their flags and standing at attention as our Moving Wall truck passes with its precious cargo. I am always struck by the silence as normal traffic comes to a stop as this procession passes by. I can see in their faces that not everyone is sure what this truck carries but have observed that many recognize the three vivid colors of Vietnam participation. I watch as the crowd's attention is drawn to the three staggered size crates on the flatbed truck and I can hear their voices whisper to one another, where is the Moving Wall?

As I begin to set up my directory tent, people come over to me and inquire where is the Moving Wall, I encourage the perplexed visitors to watch as the memorial panels emerge from the crates. Some individuals want to help disperse the panels but I explain that the memorial has to be erected in an orderly fashion. The 252 foot aluminum structure is meticulously assembled on a pre-constructed platform. Once the memorial is completely in place, all of the volunteers and visitors step back and take a moment to privately pay their respect to each of the 58,217 Vietnam Veterans whose life reflects on the "Wall."

The apex of the memorial is normally erected first and once it is in place, my information and directory duties for the week commences.

Throughout the years I have participated at each Moving Wall event, there is always a unique, special someone that crosses my path. You remember their contributions long after Moving Wall departs, even though your paths may never cross again.

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A new book was just released, "Letters on the Wall", by Michael Sofarelli (Preface by Maya Lin), focus is on offerings and remembrances from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial www.lettersonthewall.com. I have not met Michael but throughout the past year we have communicated to one another. Michael approached me for some information but he apologized, he could not say what it was for - he asked me to trust him that he was not doing something that would harm me or The Moving Wall operation. Recently, he notified me that the book was the item he was working on and for anyone who examines the pages, they will discover that Michael put his love and respect for his father who served in Vietnam, in this book.

You begin to wonder who these objects were meant for and some items left could apply to your contributions to someone specific. The letters and items left at The Moving Wall www.TheMovingWall.Org, are the same offerings left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I mentioned this to Michael and he said "For example, the letter on pg 2 and 3, entitled My Marine. This was actually the very first letter I read too. Please read this one. Back to my original point, any fallen soldier's mother could read this and gain comfort in the fact that this may have been her son." In reality it is only one Marine but it represents hundreds and hopefully that will comfort some.One day a museum will be built for thes treasured memories to be displayed for all to review, but in the meantime we have this amazing collection right at our fingertips. One day I hope to meet Michael and his parents - this family has found a place in my heart.

(Left to Right), Sgt Ryan T. Rossing (crew chief), CW3 Dirk M. Brandt (pilot), CW2 Douglas G. Determan (pilot), Sgt Steven D. Lvecht (medic) had worked together in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina evacuating people in New Orleans. We were honored to have this crew at The Moving Wall Their visit generated the crowd's patriotism and the visitors were enthusiastic to learn more about the Huey they had flown. The crew answered everyone's questions.
One interesting bit of trivia: none of the crew on board were born when this 1972 Huey flew it missions.

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I actually began working with Terry Morris during my volunteer days in Washington DC with the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (FVVM). He and I never met but we corresponded throughout my tenture trying to locate veterans looking for veterans. After eight years, we finally had the chance to meet in Valdosta, Georgia when I spoke before the sisterhood of the Vietnam Security Police Association (VSPA) reunion.

Recently both of our dreams came through when we participated together at the Moving Wall event held in Madison Wisconsin. His life long dedication assisting me surfaced as he volunteered the entire week at the Moving Wall. Terry and his wife Jean (who also volunteered with the Moving Wall) are amazing patriots.

Stranger than fiction! This story begins a few days before heading to Madison Wisconsin. On this website I received a request about an uncle on the Memorial. I told the requester that he was on the Wall. I had completed a rubbing for her and emailed that I would send it if she would give me her address before I left for Madison. She mentioned that she lived in Madison and I asked if she could stop by the Moving Wall event to pick up the rubbing. Julie D'Onofrio wrote back and said she was working at the Moving Wall. Wow! I told her I was staying with Terry and Jean Morris and she emailed back that she worked with Terry.

Julie was the chairperson of the wreath laying and escort during the ceremonies. She in in the Color Guard for VFW 7591 and a member of the American Legion Blackhawks. She was an Aviation Administration Third Class Petty Officer serving about the USS Ranger, USS Enterprise and the USS Roosevelt - all this in one tiny, energetic package - who is a very special person.

Erlyce Pekas is a member of the sisterhood of the Vietnam Security Police Association (VSPA) and she emerged into my life during the reunion event in Valdosta, Georgia in October 2005. Erlyce had lost her fiance in Vietnam, and although married, having children and a grandchild, she never forgot her fiance nor all the Vietnam veterans.

Erlyce volunteered to come up to Madison Wisconsin on her own just to help. For someone who know very little about the Moving Wall, she was a sponge just obsorbing information but what I admire most about Erlyce, she was the right person to be at the memorial helping those individuals who would not ask for help.

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The original idea of bringing The Moving Wall to Perry County came from Harold and Dee McCord of New Lexington. A group formed calling themselves the Perry County Moving Wall Committee and for a year discussed whether they could get the memorial in their town. There was a special reason for a very distinctive individual. Harold and Dee had a son, Harold R. McCord Jr, US Army who served in Vietnam til May 26, 1970 (panel 10W, row 105). I have never witnessed where one family was so instrumental in bringing The Moving Wall to a town and made the event one of the most inspirational events. Along with Harold and Dee, Ken, Gary and Randy McCord would never allow any special attention brought solely to them. Many, many times I heard Gary say please state that it was the Perry County Moving Wall committee that organized everything.

Butch Miller, Shawn Pargeon, Dave and Drew Garlinger, Bill Gillinger, Doug Bauer, Kay Householder, Dave Stickdorn and Jerry Sorrell their event may not have taken place. Perry County has 15 sons on the Memorial but it was the McCord family who came together to bring their son home again. Gary McCord, along with his wife Becky are really great people and I really appreciate all that he did at the event and for me.

During 2004, I worked at four various Moving Wall events. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, mother nature was not very forgiving to our Wall site on the beach. Days of repitious rainstorms and blustery frigid wind kept us inside of the directory tent. One vacationing couple from Pennsylvannia sought shelter. They had hosted the Moving Wall in their town and the four of us had a lot to talk about.

Throughout the last two years, we discovered more connections and actively stayed in touch with each other. Imagine my surprise when Bill and Phyllis Weiss showed up at the Moving Wall event in New Lexington, Ohio in August of 2006. They drove from Pennsylvania to Ohio, so we could visit together. I find that their gesture of support is a geniune gift of friendship.

My first meeting with Rob Roberts was in Weaverville California, home of Norris Shears (one of the two men who helped John Devitt develop his passion). Rob was going to take over escort duties for Norris. Rob listened and asked really incredible questions - I just knew his involvement with The Moving Wall was going to be more than just there for set ups and take downs. Rob has an intuitive perception of The Moving Wall - I am very attentive as he relays his thoughts and ideas about the memorial.

Rob moves quietly around the grounds but he gets tasks done with a balance of expertise and vision. Rob continues to teach me there is more to my volunteering than just the normal duties. He has expanded my horizon. With each Moving Wall event, I discover a myriad of new services that I can provide to visitors. Rob has arranged my new goals, outlining new achievements that I can feel totally responsible for. One of the most admired traits of Rob is, he is not afraid to ask questions because he wants all of the answers.

We interact with many of our military and police volunteers during the weeks' event. Both Officers Ross Bethard III and Adam Reisner of the Boca Raton Florida Police Department were very attentive volunteers. This was their first time interacting with the Moving Wall. Both officers displayed the same level of extraordinary involvement at the memorial as they performed on their job. We were very lucky to have these two responsible officers work with our directory tent volunteers.

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1999 - 2002

Back in 1983, John Devitt enlisted two Navy friends to help him with the vision he had to build a mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Gerry Haver (who passed away in 2000) and Norris Shears spent month after month working on the project with John, trying various products for this replica. Assembling the replica, transporting it and finding numerous construction methods to take it apart so that it was portable was a challenging endeavor. Norris has been involved since the very beginning. During various time frames, he was responsible as the silk screener as well as the escort driver.

I met Norris and Linda Williams in Tampa, 2001 and was honored volunteering with them on multiple Moving Wall events. One of my best events was in Norris and Linda's hometown of Weaverville, California and what a successful week that was. Norris and Linda were so involved in the preparations for the Moving Wall -- I felt like I had an inside seat witnessing a near perfect tribute to honoring our veterans on the Vietnam Memorial. Linda and Norris no longer travel around the country so I am now grateful that any time we spend together it is as friends.

If you really want to learn about the Moving Wall, the first person you start with is the escort driver. Not only do they know the mechanics of the memorial but they have so many experiences to share. Channing Prothero inspired me to search beyond my limits because he believes in my efforts to bring the spirit of the memorial to The Moving Wall visitors. Since he has friends and family on the Memorial, Channing took the time to explain the various contributions I could introduce, as well as the mistakes often made when involved in this situation. There is a special place in your heart that you draw from when dealing with friends or family and his guidance is always appreciated.

Channing is now the webmaster of The Moving Wall website. I still ask for his help and guidance on various issues.

Through out Tim Swearongin's tenure as escort driver, he covered a lot of territory across the country. Tim was so informative to Tampa, Florida Moving Wall events but it was the variety duties he juggled as he co-hosted the Moving Wall in Houston, Texas. I was so honored to have worked with Tim on both sides of the memorial presentation.

Gary Ryther introduced me to The Moving Wall in Venice Florida. His explanations about duty, honor and country were heartfelt and his veteran information extensive. However, it was his respect for this Memorial that gave me insight into the spirit of The Moving Wall and enhanced my volunteer dedication.

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1995 - 1998

During the seven years that the Moving Wall was featured in Tampa, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale Florida, I learned so much assisting the sons and daughters whose fathers are etched on the memorial. Jen Branch Denard was just one of the "kids" who touched my heart. She has an incredible spirit and always works the extra hours to introduce the memorial visitors to her experiences with Sons and Daughters In Touch (SDIT). www.SDIT.org Her father William Branch, 9 W, line 18 is her inspiration and I was blessed to volunteer with Jen.

PS Jen is still committed to the Memorial but her focus is now on two other men in her life. It is wonderful to know that William Branch lives on through his two grandsons

At the memorial site, one of the most rewarding contributions comes from the adolescents, ages 10 through 20, who give up their weekends to volunteer at the Moving Wall. Not all of them completely understand the history of Vietnam, but they do comprehend that the names on the Moving Wall represents veterans' lives lost. These cadets assist visitors who come to pay their respects.

One of the best group's participant comes from a Florida Civil Air Patrol company led by Harry "Omar" Leon. For years he had his cadets out at each Moving Wall event in Tampa and Palmetto Florida performing a multitude of duties and volunteering their time to assist others. Although these cadets were young, they were incredibly responsible. Omar is an inspiration to us all and a well-respected leader among the cadets. But Vietnam has played havoc with his health and in 2003, Omar was in a wheelchair and could not be involved with The Moving Wall as he had been in the past.

Update on Omar: I linked up with Harry at The Moving Wall in Lehigh Acres, Florida during Veterans Day celebrations and was totally blown away. He is out of his wheelchair and walking. He is almost back to the Omar we all loved and he is considering bringing back his Civil Air Patrol cadets to volunteer at The Moving Wall in the future. In 2007, Harry married Sherry Porter and he walked towards the alter. Sometimes there are miracles.

For seven years that I started volunteering for the Moving Wall, I had the opportunity to work with John Ott in the Tampa Florida directory tent. My first partner gave me the chance to explore my contributions to the Moving Wall events and he inspired me to develop beyond the limitations of just looking up names.

Tampa, Florida's sponsers had so many wonderful team members. The Edward Medard National Park Rangers were extradordinary and they all worked so well together. But there were two volunteers that were the backbone of the operation was Alice and Lee Hutchinson. Alice volunteered for every task and never once said she was too tired to help. However, it was Lee who pitched in from set up to take down. Unfortunately, we lost Lee due to a tragic accident and his presence was obviously missed at the following years' event. Everyone who has volunteered with The Moving Wall should have the support of an Alice and a Lee - we learned so much from these two loving spirits.

There are some people who cross our paths more than once and are always present at the right time. However, I reluctently acknowledge that maybe they are not meant to stay with us forever.

When I was 8 years old, my next door neighbor became my life long friend. The photo with Candy Knapp, Jaci (her sister) and myself was taken in Ocean City, MD where our families use to vacation together. We were always together - we were blood sisters. In the sixth grade, it was my birthday party but it was Candy's night to shine - she knew all the dances. Years went by and in 1967 we were reunited before I met my future husband, Gary. Later in 1968, I became her bridesmaid in October and by November, she was my matron of Honor. Again our forever friendship faded until a special night at The Moving Wall, Hattiesburg, MS in 2001 when Candy and I reconnected. It was the spirit within the "Wall" that opened up the window of opportunity to communicate and heal the past. These past 7 years having Candy as my supporter, sounding board, inspiring teacher and my friend has been so significant to the growth of "Touch the Wall." Too quickly she she has passed on but I can feel her presence when I sit down at the computer to compose. Everyone should have a forever friend's spirit in their life, thank you Candy.

My personal three biggest supporters (the two in camouflaged gear are not allowed to volunteer at the Moving Wall) always pay their respects to the Vietnam veterans before we leave the event and head home. Without Gary Denitto, I would not be able to volunteer nor could I get to the event. When we married, he realized I was not joking when I said he would be also marrying the three plus million Vietnam veterans that I wanted to work with.

Two more supporters who constantly guide me is our daughters Tammy and Jennifer Denitto. Although they have never seen me work at the Moving Wall, both daughters have encouraged me to continue my dedication to all veterans. Tammy and Jennifer have lived in England since 1987 but throughout the years the girls have witnessed my support and this year they supported me in developing this website.

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