16TH ANNUAL VIETNAM VETERANS REUNION
The reunion is sponsored by the
Vietnam Veterans of Brevard County, Florida, and has grown
drastically over the years and is now the largest grassroots reunion
in the nation. It starts off on Sunday with a motor cycle escort,
which this year had over 2000 riders, meeting the Moving Wall which
is the 4 replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
and bringing it to Wickham Park in Melbourne, Florida. Crowds of
people line the route waving and cheering as the procession goes by.
The wall is assembled and other
preparations are made so that everything is in order for the Opening
Ceremony. The Opening Ceremony is at the Wall on Monday evening. The
ceremony includes the presentation of colors, the laying of wreaths,
several distinguished speakers, a rifle salute, and taps. The
Memorial is then open to the public 24-hours-a-day until the closing
ceremony on Sunday evening. There is a staff of people available to
answer your questions and help in any way they can.
The wall and what it represents is the
reason for this reunion. It is very impressive and if you ever get a
chance to visit it, I strongly suggest that you do.
The reunion was also put together so
that the healing could start and those that were having problems
from the war could meet with others that were there. It starts with
“Welcome Home Brother.”
In another section of the park the
party part of the reunion starts at Friday at 4:00 p.m. and that’s
where you will find the music, parties, food and drinks, people
camping, military vendors and displays along with other ceremonies.
The party continues until the closing
ceremony on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. back at the Wall with a candle light
vigil and everyone placing their candles at the wall.
The reunion has its serious time, but
it is also a time for seeing old friends and getting to spend some
good time with them. Of course every year you get to make new
friends too, so the party just goes on and on.
I would like to remind every one to
thank our military people that are now serving to protect our
country and pray they make it home safe.
The Reunion schedule for 2004 is the
Wall will arrive April 18th and be on display until the 25th, with
the Reunion being 23rd-25th, 2004.
For more information contact Rogue at
rogue@bikerrogue.com or visit the Reunion web page at http://members.aol.com
reunion.html.
—Rogue
