Prospective volunteers may inquire at the library in person, or sign up online at cityofedinburg.com/wallthatheals.
The city of Edinburg is asking for volunteers to help when a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall makes its way to town next week.
The “Wall That Heals,” a replica of the well-known Washington, D.C. memorial honoring both veterans and military service members who died during the Vietnam War, will arrive in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday.
“The wall honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and bears the names of the 58,281 brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, including 15 from Edinburg as well as another 137 Fallen Heroes from Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties,” Edinburg officials said in a news release.
City officials are seeking volunteers to line Closner Boulevard as the replica memorial is escorted by a “motorcycle Honor Escort” from the South Texas International Airport to the Ebony Hills Golf Course, where it will remain on display from April 19-23.
Ebony Hills Golf Course is located along Freddy Gonzalez Drive, named after an Edinburg High School graduate who died on Feb. 4, 1968, after sustaining numerous injuries while defending his platoon during the Battle of Hué.
Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, in part, for carrying an injured comrade to safety while sustaining shrapnel wounds, and for using hand grenades to single handedly clear out North Vietnamese firing positions during the battle.
“The honor escort will leave the airport at 11:30 a.m. and arrive at the golf course at noon,” officials said.
A brief ceremony to present the colors will be held every morning at 7:30 a.m., while TAPS will be played every evening at sunset throughout the duration of the exhibit.
The wall honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and bears the names of the 58,281 brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, including 15 from Edinburg as well as another 137 Fallen Heroes from Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties.
The city will host a candlelight vigil at the memorial at 7 p.m. on April 22, and a closing ceremony at 1:30 p.m. the following afternoon.
Edinburg, in partnership with UTRGV, is also asking for volunteers to help set up the replica memorial once it arrives at the golf course, to assist at the information desk and to help visitors find the names of veterans on the wall.
The city will host a volunteer training session at Dustin M. Sekula Memorial Library on April 19 at 6 p.m. Prospective volunteers may inquire at the library in person, or sign up online at cityofedinburg.com/wallthatheals.
The wall will remain open to visitors 24 hours a day during the exhibit.
