ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- The Moving Wall, a half-size traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC is coming to Elmira at the end of June.

The Wall is on continuous public display at Eldridge Park beginning Wednesday, June 29th until 4PM on Monday, July 4th. The Wall will be escorted to the park by the Horseheads American Legion Riders, with a motorcycle escort from Horseheads to Elmira, with a stop for a brief service at Woodlawn National Cemetery.

The Wall will be erected at the soccer field, next to the west entrance into the park. There will also be a booth to help guests find names on the wall, as well as an education tent featuring speakers throughout the weekend, and military vehicles on display.

Volunteers will also be reading the 58,318 names on the wall, in a continuous reading that will begin at 6PM on June 29th.

A closing ceremony will be held at 3PM on Monday, July 4th before the Wall departs. 

PARKING: Handicap and general parking will be available in the parking lot nearest the Wall. Overflow parking will be available at the adjacent lot, closest to the baseball fields, or near the midway.

GUEST SPEAKERS: As part of Veteran's Week, Eldridge Park will also be host to a number of tents with community and service agencies related to veterans.

An education tent will also host speakers, who will deliver informational and historic presentations geared towards Vietnam Veterans. The schedule is as follows:

THURSDAY, JUNE 30TH:
09:00 AM: Mike Murphy, Chemung Co. VSO- Compensation Claims, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (Service-Connected Death).  Additional benefits associated with these grants.                                                  

10:00 AM: Dawn Smith & Mary Pleakis – VA Med. Center Bath-Programs/Services

11:00 AM: Dennis Oliver – NYS Veterans Service Officer-NYS Veterans Benefits/Programs

Noon Break                       

01:00 PM: Jane Aniskevich, VA Med. Ctr. Bath (Comprehensive Caregiver Program), Q/A.

02:00 PM: Howard Garrity – Small Business Administration-Programs/Services, Q/A.

03:00 PM: Linda Conway- American Red Cross-Programs/Services

04:00 PM: Mike Murphy, Chemung Co. VSO- VA Pension/Death Pension, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Facility, Aid & Attendance.


FRIDAY, JULY 1ST:
09:00 AM: Mike Murphy, Chemung Co. VSO- Compensation Claims, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (Service-Connected Death).  Additional benefits associated with these grants.                                                  

10:00 AM: Mike Middaugh Tioga County VSO - ETS-Sponsorship Program, New Pilot Program between NYSOMH, DOD, VA and the Counties of Tioga, Schuyler, Tompkins, Cortland, Cayuga & Chemung.  

Noon Break     

01:00 PM:  Mike Middaugh Tioga County VSO - ETS-Sponsorship Program, New Pilot Program between NYSOMH, DOD, VA and the Counties of Tioga, Schuyler, Tompkins, Cortland, Cayuga & Chemung.  

02:00 PM: Jason Davis-Binghamton Vet Center – Programs/Services, Q/A

03:00 PM: Mike Murphy, Chemung Co. DVA- Pension/Death Pension, A&A, Asst. Living, and Skilled Nursing Facility care. Q/A.

SATURDAY, JULY 2ND:

09:00 AM: General Sar Phouthasack-Laotian Army, Native Hmong, SGU-Special Guerilla Unit, CIA Operations in Laos

10:00 AM: ETS-Sponsorship Program, New Pilot Program between NYSOMH, DOD, VA and the Counties of Tioga, Schuyler, Tompkins, Cortland, Cayuga & Chemung.  Mike Middaugh Tioga County VSO

11:00 AM: Mike Middaugh, Tioga County VSO-VA Benefits, Compensation Claims/DIC

Noon Break  

02:00 PM: Bob Lyke-US Navy Veteran 65-69, Veteran Service Officer East Windsor, CT – Advocate for Federal Legislation to address Chemical/Dioxin Exposure all wars.

03:00 PM: Terri Olszowy & Doug Oakes, historical presentation on Elmira's role as a POW camp during the Civil War, known as Camp Rathbun.

04:00 PM – 06:00 PM: Renata Stiehl and Nick Quattrini WENY News, Vietnam Reflections Interviews. Any visiting Vietnam Veterans wishing to share their stories should contact Renata or Nick in the Education Tent if they wish to discuss their time in service.

MONDAY, JULY 4TH:

3:00PM - Closing Ceremony

4:00PM - The Moving Wall closes, begins disassembly.