‘Moving Wall’ Veterans Memorial Coming to Missoula

The national Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall) is constructed from black granite and located firmly in Washington D.C., but a smaller 'moving wall' tours the United States in an effort to give all Americans a chance to memorialize the fallen.

The 250 foot long 'moving wall' is eight feet tall and constructed from painted metal to give the same reflective effect that the D.C. Wall offers. On this reflective surface, the names of fallen Vietnam Veterans are etched in relief offering an overwhelming display of the cost of war.

Vietnam Veteran Dan Gallagher explains the meaning of the wall and  American Legion Post #101's involvement in bringing the wall to Missoula:

The 'moving wall' is being brought to Missoula by American Legion Forgotten Warriors Post #101, which is responsible not only for bringing the wall to Missoula twice before, but also for being instrumental in paying for the construction of the original D.C. Wall.

An opening ceremony for the 'moving wall' will be held in Missoula on Thursday August 17, 2012 and the wall itself will be staged north of the Adams Center just south of Jacob's Island on the University of Montana campus. The 'moving wall' will be open for visitation 24 hours a day and visitors will have the opportunity to take relief rubbings of the names of their loved ones, friends and fellow soldiers. The wall will move on to another city on August 19, 2012.