ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Thursday is the first full day that people can visit the Moving Wall, a traveling Vietnam Memorial.

One woman, Kathy, volunteered to read names of people killed in the Vietnam War.

"It was definitely a surreal feeling, standing in front of the wall and reading all of the names of the people who gave their life,"

She drove 45 minutes to read names of those who were killed in the Vietnam War, at 5:15 a.m.

"I wanted to come... because I have an uncle who is on the wall," she said. "It was just something I wanted to do and the time wasn't important. It definitely was emotional, a little shakiness in the voice... but, it was an honor."

 

Chris is the chair of the Executive Committee who helped bring the Traveling Wall to Elmira.

"It feels fantastic to be able to give this to the community of Elmira and ... I feel very honored to be a part of this committee to be able to bring this wall here," he said.

He has noticed many come to the wall with a lot of baggage.

"I've noticed in the last day and a half being here, the amount of emotion that people had, that people that I personally know won't come to the wall at the main hours, they'll come after... 10 o'clock at night, and some that their eyes start to water the minute that they get out of the car," said Chris.

He believes every little big that can be done to heal should be done.

"I think we are doing some healing. Are we ever going to be doing all the healing that needs to be done? No." 

The Vietnam Wall in Eldridge Park will be open 24/7 until 4 p.m. on July 4.