ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — A replica of the Vietnam Wall Memorial will be on display in Rothschild through the weekend.
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute Wall was escorted by veterans and volunteers from Wausau West High School to Wausau Homes in Rothschild on Wednesday.
Ron Worthey is the President of the Souls of Honor veteran support group in Wausau. He spoke with WAOW Newsline 9.
Worthey said, “Vietnam veterans were kind of forgotten about in their day, it was only in the last few years that people began recognizing us as human beings.”
Wausau Homes president Jay Schuette tells Newsline 9 that he came up with the idea to bring the wall to Marathon County.
“I thought well how cool would it be to bring it to Central Wisconsin,” Schuette said. “There’s a lot of people that are connected to Vietnam in some way shape or form, still dealing with the experience.”
Vice President of the Souls of Honor veteran support group, Randy Pliska, spoke about how happy he is to see the wall in the Wausau area.
“These were all lives that gave their lives for our freedom,” Pliska said. “For the people that don’t go to Washington D.C. to see the monuments, this brings it home.”
The wall will stand at Wausau Homes from 1 p.m. today through Sunday. Each day will feature ceremonies and displays.
THURSDAY, JULY 20
· 1 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies · 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Wausau Concert Band· 9 p.m. – Fireworks Display
FRIDAY, JULY 21
· Police, Fire, K9, SWAT, and Bomb Squad Vehicles on Display· 1 p.m. – Color Guard· 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Wausau Homes Open House
SATURDAY, JULY 22
· National Guard Vehicles on Display· 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Wausau Homes Open House· 12 p.m. – Color Guard· 1:30 p.m. – Adventures in the Spirit Creativity Ministry· 3 p.m. – Motorcycle Ride of Honor· 8:30 p.m. – Candlelight Vigil
SUNDAY, JULY 23
·National Guard Vehicles on Display·10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Church Service·11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Wausau Homes Open House · 12 p.m. – Color Guard· 2:30 p.m. – Closing Ceremonies with Echo Taps and Balloon Release
