A six-day “Celebration of Freedom” kicks off today in Parkston with the arrival of a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Rob Monson says the public is encouraged to join in the arrival of the wall this afternoon. A convoy parade will leave Dimock at 3:30 PM Wednesday with the wall vehicle. Hundreds of motorcycles, fifty Corvettes, and many classic cars are expected to join in the convoy, which should arrive in Parkston at around 3:40 PM. Around sixty Vietnam veterans are expected to attend today’s event.
Monson says due to the controversy surrounding the war, Vietnam veterans were not given the same respect as veterans of other wars were, and this event is an attempt to right some of those wrongs.
Although the replica wall is smaller than the original in Washington, Monson says it is still a massive structure – 360 feet long and 8 feet high in the middle.
The wall will be set up in the East City Park in Parkston through Monday afternoon. There are several events planned throughout the six-day “Celebration of Freedom”. For more information, go to http://www.parkstoncelebration.com.