Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Coming to Thornton for Independence Day
Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation Sponsors Memorial
THORNTON, Colorado - With great pride and enthusiasm the Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation announces Thornton will be the host for the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. The Foundation, working in conjunction with the city of Thornton, has arranged to have this extraordinary memorial present from July 3 to July 7, 2008 - most fittingly during the city's Independence Day celebration. The Wall will be available for public viewing 24 hours a day on those dates at the multipurpose fields at the Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center (11151 Colorado Boulevard, Thornton, CO 80233).
Of all the war memorials, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - the Wall - arguably invokes the strongest emotional reaction of any and it is the single most visited memorial in the country. In order to allow more people to experience it, veterans organizations have created 3/5 scale versions that now travel the country making appearances at various events. Just the presence of the wall draws thousands of visitors at every location. It is not merely something that is seen - it is something that is
experienced.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was created for the purpose of helping to heal the wounds of war, rekindle friendships, and draw attention to veterans' issues. This important memorial allows those who may not otherwise be able to travel to Washington D.C. the opportunity to experience this powerful memorial in their hometown. It serves as a reminder of the great sacrifices our servicemen and women made not only during the Vietnam War, but all wars.
The Wall has traveled thousands of miles across dozens of states. Each showing draws thousands of visitors from hundreds of miles away as people are drawn to the memorial and the memories it invokes.
The Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation is excited to host the memorial on its visit to Thornton and we are pleased that we are able to host it during a most fitting time - the celebration of our nation's birth. For more information, please visit the Foundation's website at
http://www.thorntonveteransmemorial.org.
About the Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation
Founded in 2005, the Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established by citizens of Thornton, Colorado with the sole purpose of building and maintaining a veterans memorial. Our nation's veterans have served and protected the United States for 230 years. They have made sacrifices small and large, all to ensure the freedom of this great nation. A fitting and proper tribute within our city is a small way of showing our appreciation for their service. Privately funded and created, the Foundation endeavors to make this memorial a reality for the city, its citizens and all veterans.
The memorial will pay tribute to all veterans of the past, present and future. Located near the Thornton Recreation Center at 108 th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, the memorial will be centrally located and easily accessible from anywhere in the north metro area. The design, based on a five point star with each point representing each branch of military service, will be over 150 feet in diameter. A pentagon and five-sided obelisk will be in the center of the memorial with individual monuments for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard surrounding it.
To learn more about the Foundation and the memorial project, please visit our website at
http://www.thorntonveteransmemorial.org.