Making camp in Livingston

Traveling replica of Vietnam Wall memorial is in town until Sunday

Friday, July 30, 2004

BY KATIE WANG

Star-Ledger Staff

The first time Charles J. Tahaney visited the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., he got choked up seeing the names of the men who were killed in his platoon etched in the somber black granite.

Subsequent visits have been equally emotional for the Livingston resident who served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. So when a replica wall rolled into town yesterday, Tahaney said he expected to have the same teary reaction -- even though the wall is not the real one.

"It has a special place in my heart," said Tahaney, who is the Livingston township administrator. "It's the same every time you go."

The traveling wall, a 240-foot replica of the real monument in Washington, D.C., has been displayed in cities across the country. A funeral home company, Dignity Memorial based in Houston, created the wall in 1990 and has brought it to different cities across the country.

"Our company was looking for a way to bring the D.C. memorial to distinct communities," said Amanda McDonald, a spokeswoman for Dignity Memorial. "The wall is dedicated to all Vietnam vets and it also honors all vets in the military."

The wall is made of faux granite and is three-quarters the size of the real wall. The memorial carries the names of all 58,000 people who were killed or missing in the war, and visitors will be able to rub names off the wall with a sheet of paper.

Livingston is the only stop in New Jersey for the Dignity Memorial traveling wall. Officials are expecting thousands of people, including many vets, to visit over the weekend.

"One of the advantages of the moving Vietnam Wall is to move something closer to home for people who can't get to the national or state memorial," said Tony Dellano, a Vietnam vet and carpenter from Cedar Grove who helped lay the wooden foundation. "The moving walls throughout the U.S. really serve a purpose and they provide a lot of healing for parents and friends."

Tahaney, 59, said he plans to -- as he always does when he visits the wall -- look for the names of the 10 men who perished from his Army platoon.

Seeing the names of the dead, he said, always evokes an emotional response. The wall, he said, is a fitting tribute to those who served in the war.

"This will give people an opportunity to come and visit and pay their respects for veterans," he said.

The replica wall will be on display at Memorial Park in front of Livingston High School for three days, starting today.

A ceremony to mark the opening of the wall will take place at 11 a.m. The display will be open around the clock and will end with a closing ceremony at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Katie Wang covers Livingston. She can be reached at kwang@star ledger.com or (973) 392-1504.




Making camp in Livingston Traveling replica of Vietnam Wall memorial is in town until Sunday Friday, July 30, 2004 BY KATIE WANG Star-Ledger Staff The first time Charles J. Tahaney visited the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., he got choked up seeing the names of the men who were killed in his platoon etched in the somber black granite. Subsequent visits have been equally emotional for the Livingston resident who served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. So when a replica wall rolled into town yesterday, Tahaney said he expected to have the same teary reaction -- even though the wall is not the real one. "It has a special place in my heart," said Tahaney, who is the Livingston township administrator. "It's the same every time you go." The traveling wall, a 240-foot replica of the real monument in Washington, D.C., has been displayed in cities across the country. A funeral home company, Dignity Memorial based in Houston, created the wall in 1990 and has brought it to different cities across the country. "Our company was looking for a way to bring the D.C. memorial to distinct communities," said Amanda McDonald, a spokeswoman for Dignity Memorial. "The wall is dedicated to all Vietnam vets and it also honors all vets in the military." The wall is made of faux granite and is three-quarters the size of the real wall. The memorial carries the names of all 58,000 people who were killed or missing in the war, and visitors will be able to rub names off the wall with a sheet of paper. Livingston is the only stop in New Jersey for the Dignity Memorial traveling wall. Officials are expecting thousands of people, including many vets, to visit over the weekend. "One of the advantages of the moving Vietnam Wall is to move something closer to home for people who can't get to the national or state memorial," said Tony Dellano, a Vietnam vet and carpenter from Cedar Grove who helped lay the wooden foundation. "The moving walls throughout the U.S. really serve a purpose and they provide a lot of healing for parents and friends." Tahaney, 59, said he plans to -- as he always does when he visits the wall -- look for the names of the 10 men who perished from his Army platoon. Seeing the names of the dead, he said, always evokes an emotional response. The wall, he said, is a fitting tribute to those who served in the war. "This will give people an opportunity to come and visit and pay their respects for veterans," he said. The replica wall will be on display at Memorial Park in front of Livingston High School for three days, starting today. A ceremony to mark the opening of the wall will take place at 11 a.m. The display will be open around the clock and will end with a closing ceremony at 9 p.m. Sunday. Katie Wang covers Livingston. She can be reached at kwang@star ledger.com or (973) 392-1504. Copyright 2004 NJ.com. All Rights Reserved.