COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township Vietnam War veteran Sol Bidding announced that the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall will be displayed in the playground in Tharptown from May 29, 2014, to June 2, 2014.
Bidding said seven local Vietnam War veterans will be welcomed home for the first time during a special ceremony at the Wall.
He said the wall honors 58,226 soldiers killed in the war and approximately 2,000 veterans listed as missing in action and prisoners of war.
"Those of us who survived Vietnam will find the wall heart-breaking," Bidding said. "While those of us who fought in Vietnam find it hard to visit the Wall in Washington, D.C., I'm hoping our local veterans may find closure by visiting the wall in Tharptown and by touching the very names of those they served with."
Bidding said Vietnam War veterans were treated terribly and disrespected upon returning home from serving their country.
He stated, "All gave some, while others gave all. Come and say in person, 'welcome home' to those on the long, black, cold wall."
Bidding, who serves as sergeant of the wall guard and recording secretary for the Soldiers Circle Veterans Association, said it will cost $5,000 to bring the wall to Tharptown plus another $1,500 to build a form and handicap walkway and purchase flags and flagpoles.
He said monetary donations may be sent to the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, c/o Garth Hall, 1113 N. Franklin St., Shamokin 17872. Any businesses wishing to place ads in a program for the event can call Shamokin American Legion Commander Roger Alleman at 648-6034.
Bidding said veterans wishing to serve as honor guards at the wall can contact him at 274-5298.