FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Everyone should have an opportunity to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, but most Americans, especially those living outside of the Washington, D.C., area may never get the opportunity. Thanks to the American Legion Post 639, a post founded in the 1980s by Vietnam War veterans, Springfieldians will get their chance to see the the wall this summer. The American Legion Post 639 will host the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall at its location at 2660 S. Scenic July 9-12. The wall is a 3/5 scale of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. It stands six feet tall at the center and covers almost 300 feet from end to end. This traveling memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their hometown who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington, according to the Vietnam Traveling Wall’s Web site. The wall will make its way to Springfield from a visit in Oak Island, North Carolina, said post Commander Mike Goforth. The Missouri Highway Patrol and a brigade of motorcycles will escort the vehicles carrying the wall to the American Legion Post once it crosses the Arkansas/Missouri state line near Thayer around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 8. Anyone who’d like to join the escort is welcome, Goforth said. “We’d like to get a couple of hundred motorcycles to escort the wall in to Springfield to the post,” Goforth said. “We’re leaving at 8 a.m. the morning of July 8. All you have to do is show up and ride with us.” The wall and accompanying exhibit will be available for viewing 24 hours a day starting at noon, Thursday, July 9. “We will have lighting, security and guides at the wall from noon Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12,” Goforth said. He said the wall will be disassembled and taken it its next location on July 13. The members of the post has been hard at work for months hosting fundraising events to pay for the wall’s visit, and preparing the grounds and berm for the exhibit. A campaign at GoFundMe.com/FundtheWall to help with the post’s expenses to bring the wall to Springfield has raised $13,440 of its $50,000 goal. “This year was designated by Congress as the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War,” Goforth said. “Although we welcome all veterans, we wanted to commemorate this significant anniversary by doing something to honor the Vietnam vets in the Ozarks. We could think of no better way to do that than by bringing this exhibit to Springfield.” For more information, please call Mike Goforth at 417-225-2650.