The long-awaited arrival of the Vietnam Veterans Wall That Heals memorial is just days away and organizers invite the public to welcome the escort on Tuesday, May 9.
People will be waving flags and wearing red, white and blue as the escort comes through town at approximately 2:30 p.m. with 50-100 motorcycles, also flying Old Glory, as they accompany the trailer that carries the memorial. Larry Parsons, a Vietnam veteran who is helping with the project, said he hopes people will line both sides of Main Street from Lakin Ave. to Broadway Ave.
Sutherlands in Great Bend has donated 600 small flags to hand out, said Kim Nollette, volunteer coordinator.
Organizers can’t guarantee the exact time the escort will pass by but they have timed several test runs and feel confident it will be between 2:15 and 2:45, Parsons said.
Schedule
• Tuesday afternoon, they will gather in the 300 Block of Main Street in Claflin from 12:30-1 p.m. After a rider briefing at 1:15 p.m., the escort will depart from Claflin at 1:40 p.m.
• After traveling south on Main in Claflin, they will head west on K-4 to Hoisington, traveling at approximately 30 mph.
• In Hoisington the escort will turn south on Main Street, which is U.S. 281. School children and community members are invited to line both sides of Main Street.
• The escort should arrive at Great Bend by 2:30 p.m., and will turn left at 24th Street, following the 281 By-pass to 10th Street. It will turn right on 10th Street and proceed west past Riley Elementary School, where children will be outside with flags, and continue on to Main Street at approximately 2:35 p.m.
• It will turn right at Main and head north to 24th Street, passing the courthouse and the North Dillons store at approximately 2:40. Park Elementary School students will be at the Dillons parking lot.
• At 24th and Main, the escort will turn left to proceed west to K-96, passing Jefferson Elementary School and its students at approximately 2:45 p.m. Holy Family School students will be at the intersection of 24th and McKinley.
• At K-96, the escort will turn left and proceed southeast on K-96 to 17th Terrace, turning left and arriving at Al Burns Field at approximately 2:55 p.m.
“Great Bend is very proud to host the Vietnam Veterans Wall That Heals on May 11-14, 2023, at Al Burns Field in Veterans Memorial Park,” said Christina Hayes, Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. “The public is invited to come see the Wall for free during the open hours. However, before it’s set up and ready to be visited, (the) escort is also something the public will want to be part of.”
Parson is also asking for a good turnout, as well as hoping for good weather.
“About a year ago, we decided it was about time to honor the Vietnam veterans,” he said. “Only about 30% of us are still alive.”
Once it is set up, the wall will also display six shadowboxes honoring servicemen who died in the Vietnam War: Conrad Straub from Claflin, Carl Karst from Galatia, John Simmons and Robert Reidl from Hoisington, and Kent Amerine and Edward Saenz from Great Bend.
“Attend and help properly pay tribute and show the pride that Great Bend has to host this honorable display to the United States Vietnam Veterans and families,” Hayes said.
For more information about Great Bend’s feature of The Wall That Heals visit: https://www.exploregreatbend.com/wallthathealsgbks. Volunteers may also sign up on the website.
