Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, November 4, 2022

AV Wall again coming to Palmdale as part of Vets Day
by Stuart Ibberson
editor
The AV Wall will be on display Nov. 9-13, 2022, at the Palmdale Amphitheater at Marie Kerr Park in Palmdale, Calif.
While the wall will be open 24/7 for free public viewing, there are some specific events scheduled.
On Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – there will be a Veterans Day Cer- emony at 11 a.m., that will also include the distribution of Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins.
On Nov. 12, at 8 p.m., there will be a candlelight ceremony honoring the AV 76. Taps will be played nightly at 9 p.m.
The AV Wall is a half-scale size tribute monument of the Viet- nam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is cared for by Point Man Antelope Valley, a veterans outreach organization that minis- ters to veterans of all wars.
PMAV is a non-profit, faith-based 501(c)(3) autonomous orga- nization that is fully financed by donations. PMAV is under the umbrella of Point Man International Ministries, Spring Brook, N.Y.
The concept of a local mobile Vietnam memorial wall was first discussed in 2005 when a committee celebrating the 10th anni- versary of the Palmdale Playhouse was looking for a mobile wall to display at the A Piece of My Heart play. The play by Shirley Lauro details the stories and struggles of six women who served in Vietnam. A mobile wall would be the perfect tie-in, but none were available at that time. “Why can’t we build our own wall?” was asked by a Playhouse staff member, and the concept took off!
It took four years to raise the $102,000 to fabricate the wall. Signs and Designs, Inc. of Palmdale was integral in the manufac- turing and engraving of the wall. Each year, upon the release of additions and changes to the wall by the Department of Defense, Signs and Designs, Inc. updates our panels.
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Aerotech News and Review
November 4, 2022
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