For Jamie Morrow, seeing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., was pretty emotional.
"The magnitude of the names is hard to conceive. We take for granted the number of lives that were lost," she said.
John Devitt felt those same emotions attending the 1982 dedication in Washington, also seeing the "positive power" the wall had.
DeVitt and other Vietnam veterans, including Norris Shears and Gerry Haver, decided to build a half-replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial called the Moving Wall, allowing people who may not be able to visit Washington, D.C., to see this memorial closer to home.
Vietnam Combat Veterans Ltd. held its first display in October 1984 in Tyler, Texas, and it now travels throughout the United States from April through November, spending about a week at a time at each location.
Morrow and fellow Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce members are excited to have the Moving Wall come to the Versailles City Park from Oct. 5-9 during the annual Versailles Olde Tyme Apple Festival.
Morrow, chairman of the committee arranging the visit, said the chamber made initial plans more than a year ago to bring the exhibit to their community.
"Hosting the Moving Wall is not free. We have done a lot of fundraising and still are taking last-minute contributions to have this exhibit on display in Versailles," Morrow said. "It has taken a tremendous community effort to make sure everything has been done."
He noted it has taken $8,000-$10,000 to have the exhibit properly displayed, secured and accessible for visitors.
Morrow said a lot of area businesses have donated supplies and time, including lumber to build platforms, construction labor, hospitality tents for 75-100 volunteers and much more. Among the volunteers, the community's local Patriot Guard and Noble Eagles will provide security, and the Lions Club will assist with electrical accessibility at the Moving Wall exhibit.
"This is completely, 100 percent volunteer-run," Morrow said. "They are doing it because they want to and want to help bring this exhibit to our community."
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the city park.
The history club at Versailles High School will conduct an assembly the morning of the opening ceremony. Morrow said 18 students have learned about the Vietnam War and will share what they have learned at the assembly and the opening ceremony.
Local American Legion and VFW posts, state Rep. David Wood and Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Dunklee, both National Guardsman, will be part of the opening ceremony.
"We are also supposed to have a Black Hawk helicopter on display," Morrow added.
The Moving Wall will officially open at 3 p.m. and remains open 24 hours a day, manned with security and volunteers until it closes at about noon Oct. 9.
While guests visit the memorial exhibit, they can view names, make rubbings of names of loved ones (special crayon and paper provided), and search for names with the help for phone app assistance and iPads available on site. Morrow said volunteers will help guests search for names.
At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8, the public is welcome to a twilight ceremony, where paper lanterns will be lifted into the sky in commemoration of Vietnam and all veterans who have died in battle.
"So many Vietnam veterans did not get the respect and honor they deserved. Our community wants them to know they will never be forgotten and how much we appreciate them," Morrow said.
Volunteers and contributions are still needed. For more information, contact the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce at 573-378-4401.