Clinton Township

Township plans weekend of events for Wall that Heals

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Clinton Township officials and veterans groups have been preparing all year for Labor Day weekend, when The Wall That Heals traveling memorial comes to the community.

The memorial is a half-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Township officials are expecting many visitors during the Sept. 2-5 display and have planned events to pay respect to the servicemen and woman killed or missing in the Vietnam War.

“I think of it as a memorial that serves two purposes,” said Barabra Rossmann, president and CEO of Henry Ford Macomb Hospital and also a former military nurse, who is speaking at opening ceremonies Sept. 2. “No matter our political beliefs, it allows us to show our support for all military personnel.”

It’s also a chance for veterans to “take out their carefully protected memories,” Rossmann said. “It brings it close to home and makes it personal in terms of community.”

Events at and around the Civic Center this weekend include:

• The main branch of the Clinton-Macomb Public Library, 40900 Romeo Plank Road, next to the Civic Center, will present a free showing of the HBO film “Taking Chance” at 7 p.m. Sept. 1. The film documents the true story of a soldier’s death in battle in Iraq and the return of his remains home.

• Opening ceremonies for the memorial begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Civic Center, located at 40700 Romeo Plank Road, south of Canal Road. The Native American Veterans Association of Southeast Michigan, led by Chris Franklin, will bless the wall, followed by the posting of the colors. Master Sgt. William Kaufman of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base will sing the “Star-Spangled Banner”; Township Supervisor Bob Cannon will welcome the crowd; and there will be an invocation and laying of the wreaths before several speeches. A flyover from Selfridge Air National Guard Base is planned.

• The Wall will be guarded and on display for viewing 24 hours a day during its visit. The names on the wall replicate those on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and visitors can find names listed alphabetically by day of casualty. The names and dates begin in the center of the chevron-shaped memorial and read to the right edge of the wall, picking back up at the far left side of the wall and moving back to the center. The beginning and end dates of the war meet in the center.

• An information center and museum will accompany the memorial. Visitors can look up names of their loved ones in a directory of names or by asking a volunteer for help using a computer directory to locate the correct panel on the wall.

• On two occasions throughout the weekend, the names of the nearly 200 Macomb County servicemen and women on the wall will be read aloud. The readings will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.

• The Michigan Vietnam Veterans Traveling Memorial will also be on display at the Civic Center Sept. 2-5, courtesy of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154. The memorial is 25 feet long and contains the names of the more than 2,600 service men and women killed or missing in the Vietnam War who were specifically from Michigan.

“We also have books with biographies and information about people,” said Patrick Daniels, president of the chapter. “They were more than just a name on the wall, they were somebody.”

People are encouraged to bring photos of their loved ones to be included in the book.

• Closing ceremonies are at 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Civic Center. A motor escort will travel from Resurrection Cemetery to the grounds of the Civic Center. The “Star-Spangled Banner” will again be sung, followed by several guest speakers, bagpipers, the folding of the flag, retrieving of the colors and taps.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.