Vietnam Traveling Wall in Orange, CA

The Vietnam Traveling Wall is coming to the City of Orange, CA and they are looking for volunteers to help out. Any Burbank High grads that live in the area may want to help out can check the Facebook Page for more information.

The Vietnam Traveling Wall Now @ Van Nuys

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (http://www.avtt.org/ ) will be in Van Nuys from October 14-18 in support of Operation Gratitude. The AVTT Exhibit includes a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall (80% scale), a Cost of Freedom display of Gold Dog Tags for every service member killed since Vietnam, a 9-11 tribute, and an art display of paintings and photos from World War II and the Korean War.

The Exhibit will be on the large lot adjacent to the Van Nuys National Guard Armory. Operation Gratitude will host Prep days in the Armory during the Exhibit.
The entire event will be free to the public. Our mission is to provide our community an opportunity to "Pay Respect" to our heroes both by visiting the Memorial and by participating in Operation Gratitude activities.

The AVTT event daily schedule is as follows:

1. Wednesday October 14: RAIN OR SHINE: Motorcade Escort of The Traveling Wall
4:00pm Muster at Airtel Plaza Hotel: 7277 Valjean Avenue, Van Nuys
5:30pm - Color Guard and Greetings Indoors: Airtel Plaza Ballroom Guest: Mitchell Englander, Chief of Staff for Councilman Greig Smith Condor Fly-Over Will Launch the Motorcade (weather permitting)
6:00pm Motorcade Departs for Exhibit Site led by Grand Marshall Stan Chambers ROUTE: West on Sherman Way; South on Louise Avenue to Event site at Louise and Victory Spectators Assemble along Louise from Vanowen to Victory Line the Parade Route and Wave a Flag!

2. Thursday October 15:
9am-Noon: volunteers Set up Exhibit
Noon-5pm: Open viewing
5pm-7pm: Opening Ceremony with Candlelighting, Laying of Wreaths Hosted by 4-Time Olympic Gold Medalist in Swimming: John Naber Guests: City Councilmen Greig Smith, Tony Cardenas and Dennis Zine 3-War Veteran MSGT (ret.) Edward Chema Speaker: Stan Chambers

3. Friday October 16: Open 8am-8pm
9am-3pm: School Visits 11am-1pm: Share your Lunchbreak with KKGO Country's Morning Co-Host Ashley Paige
3pm-8pm: Open Viewing

4. Saturday October 17: Family Day
8am-8pm: Musical Performances
12-3pm: Kogi BBQ Truck and Get Shaved Ice 1pm: Color Guard and Formal Greeting Guests: City Controller Wendy Greuel Gold Star Wives

5. Sunday October 18: Open 8am-6pm
11am: Memorial Service officiated by Rabbi Mordecai Finley of Ohr Hatorah Synagogue and Pastor Glen Kreun of Saddleback Church Guests: Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, Stan Chambers 3-War Veteran MSGT (ret.) Edward Chema Speaker: Major General John Harrell Condor Flyover
12 Noon: Parade of Honor Past The Wall 1-6pm: Open Viewing
6pm-8pm: Breakdown

Letter writing materials, scarf-making lessons, information and snacks will be offered at the Operation Gratitude tables at The Exhibit site. All ages are invited to attend The Exhibit. Visitors 12 years and older are welcome to volunteer in the Armory to help prep products for our package assembly the following weekend. Girl Scouts will be offering Trophy Nuts for donation to our troops through the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles Gift of Caring Program.

Visitors are encouraged to bring donations for the care packages.
Suggested items are:
Beanie Babies
Bags of Candy
Beef Jerky-Individual Packages
Location: 17330 Victory Blvd; Van Nuys, CA 91406 ▪ Corner of Victory and LouiseNote: Parking next door at the SkatePark & Encino Farmer’s Market from 12 noon to 8 PM daily & at Brimingham High School all day Saturday & Sunday
The Airtel Plaza Hotel is offering rooms for $89/night under the group name "AVTT." Call 1-800-2AIRTEL for reservations and mention "AVTT."
For more information about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute: http://www.avtt.org/
For more information about Operation Gratitude: http://www.operationgratitude.com/
For more information about the Operation Gratitude-AVTT Event: OpGrat@gmail.com or ptmarty@aol.com

Dignity Vietnam Moving Wall

Here I am getting ready to place a red carnation at the Vietnam Wall in remembrence of my two classmates, William Henry Bric III and Robert John Campbell.
The Dove release at Closing Ceremonies.

Vietnam Veterans saluating the Vietnam Wall and their buddies whose names are on the Wall.

Americian Flag, Service Branch Flags, POW/MIA Flag

A women doing a name rubbing of a loved one who is on the wall.

A couple embrace while the husband remembers his buddies on the wall.

Here I am getting ready to volunteer on Friday morning.


Helicopter Flyover

This past Labor Day weekend, I spent it at Valley of the Oaks Memorial Park Cemetery in Westlake Village, California volunteering at the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall. I slept in my truck at night from Friday until the Closing Ceremonies on Monday at 10 a.m..

I work the wall helping people find the names of their loved one on the wall. I gave tours and explained how the wall and the names were set up. I answered questions and did look-ups in my green book with all the names and where they are on the wall.

Sunday night one of the names I looked up for a couple was one of my own classmates from Burbank High School, Robert John Campbell BHS 1967. The woman was Virginia Castro from the Class of 1968 and she said that John Campbell had been their neighbor and they grew up together. As it turned out Virginia's brother Gerald Castro BHS 65 and I had met a few years ago as he was in boot camp with Douglas Ray Johnson BHS 64 who was killed in Vietnam and Gerald later sent me some photos of Douglas in boot camp. Next thing I know Virgina Castro calls her brother on the cell phone and ask if he remembers me and he said yes and to tell me Hi!. We all had a good laugh.

The closing ceremonies was really nice as they cleared the wall of people and then had all Vietnam Veterans go up to the wall and salute it. There was a dove release and then the Seabees started taking down the wall as it's next stop is Phoenix, AZ. Check out the Acorn News as I am mentioned in it.