Admission is free.
Hosted by the City of Palmdale and Point Man Antelope Valley, the AV Wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day while it is on display.
This year’s theme is “Women of the Vietnam War,” and ceremonies will include female veteran speakers, performers and other participants.
An official opening ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. Taps will be played nightly at 10 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, at 9 p.m., there will be a Candlelight Memorial Walk to honor the eight American military women who died while serving in the Vietnam War and the 76 soldiers from the Antelope Valley – AV 76 – whose names are inscribed on the Wall.
Then on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., the annual Veterans Day service co-hosted by the Antelope Valley Service Organization Association (AVSOA) and the AV Wall organization will take place. This celebration honors all veterans, and the public is encouraged to attend this free event.
The viewing of the AV Wall will end at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.
About the AV Wall
The AV Wall is one of the rarest home-grown memorials of its kind in the nation and represents the Antelope Valley’s commitment to the men and women who served their country. The AV Wall was designed and fabricated by Signs and Designs, Inc. of Palmdale. From 2005 to 2009, more than $100,000 was raised locally to build the wall. It was dedicated at a ceremony at Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42 on Nov. 13, 2009.
The AV Wall has been visited by thousands of men, women and children since its dedication and has provided education, healing and a gathering place for Vietnam Veterans to mourn and remember. A visit to the AV Wall offers a chance to honor those who lost their lives in Vietnam.
This year, the six-day display is staffed completely by volunteers, veterans, local service organizations and others. The volunteers attend an in-depth training so they can provide visitors with the best possible experience during their visit to the wall. Volunteers help look up names in the computer database, assist in locating the names on the wall, and provide information about the wall design and layout.
For more information, call 661-524-6408 or visit www.avwall.org.
[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
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