Page 6 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News November 2023

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6 November 2023 Aerotech News www.aerotechnews.com
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Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall coming to Rosamond
The Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall will be on dis-
“The AV Wall Board has been discussing retir- play Nov. 7-12, 2023, at Westpark Elementary School,
ing our memorial for some time and with the 50th 3600 Imperial Avenue, in Rosamond. A Veterans Day
Vietnam War Commemorative program coming to Ceremony will be held in front of the wall on Nov. 11.
an end in 2025, there was no doubt that it is the best The Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall — AV wall is
time to retire The AV Wall,” said Mike Bertell, presi- a grassroots effort conceived, funded, and built by
dent of The Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall. “It will the citizens of the Antelope Valley and was dedicated
be a bittersweet ending for all of us having spent in 2009.
18 years of planning, organizing, and watching our The AV Wall is maintained and traveled by an all-
baby go on display across Southern California. volunteer organization. It is one of only five traveling
“There are endless memories that will stay with walls in the United States and the only one based on
the crew and volunteers for the rest of our lives. the West Coast.
We have made many friends,” Bertell continued. The AV Wall is engraved with the names of more
“There have been tears shed and plenty of joy. We than 58,300 men and women who gave their lives or
have met people from many cities; people who would remain missing.
never have come into our lives on a normal basis. The AV Wall is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam
I know we have touched the hearts of hundreds of Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., and
families. We have laughed (at times making fun of was first established 18 years ago, according to Mike
each other) and we have been held together by the Bertell, president of the AV Wall Board.
love of a dream.”
It was created by and for the Antelope Valley (hence
The current schedule calls for the Wall to be on the nickname “The AV Wall”). The AV Wall is cared for
display Nov. 7-12, 2023, at Westpark Elementary and displayed by a 100 percent volunteer workforce.
School in Rosamond. Volunteer information will be Point Man Antelope Valley (a nonprofit veteran min-
available in August with the Mandatory Volunteer istry group) is the Guardian of The AV Wall.
Training scheduled in October.
Point Man Antelope Valley is an Outpost of Point
Other dates confirmed are:
Man International Ministries, a non-denominational,
May 24-27, 2024: Smith Park in Pico Rivera evangelistic, mission-oriented, faith ministry com-
May 23-26, 2025: Rancho Tapo Community Park mitted to facilitating healing and restoration of the
in Simi Valley
spiritual, emotional and physical needs of veterans
November 25: Palmdale Amphitheater
and their families.
Communities in Southern California who would The AV Wall Board voted recently to retire the Mo-
like to host The AV Wall in November 2024 can bile Vietnam Memorial Wall following the November
submit their request at https://avwall.org/about/ 2025 display in Palmdale.
the-av-wall/
ERANS
Thank you to our veterans for your service and sacrifice for your country, county, and community.
For resources, visit kathrynbarger.lacounty.gov/veterans
@SupervisorBarger @KathrynBarger @SupervisorKathrynBarger KathrynBarger.LACounty.gov
Courtesy photo