SE to host Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall

ATTICA — Seneca East will play host to some very special events once again this September. As part of a weekend of remembrance, Seneca East will host The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, which will be on display and open to the public from 3 p.m. Sept. 5 until 8 a.m. Sept. 9. The Memorial will be open to the public day and night, 24 hours around the clock. The only time the memorial will be closed during its stay at Seneca East is from 3 p.m.-midnight Sept. 7. During that time, it will be open to the participants, attendees and volunteers of the Stars, Stripes, & Lights cross country meet that evening. "We are truly grateful for the opportunity to host the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall and to our local businesses, community members, and volunteers who are helping make this possible," Seneca East girls cross country coach Matt Schock said. "Our school and community have turned a simple cross country meet into something that is so much more, a true educational experience for all student athletes in attendance and for our entire community and surrounding areas. "Everyone provides support in different ways, be it financial, manual labor, or expertise and I would like to personally thank each of the helping hands who make this event special year in and year out." Cross Country On Sept. 7, Seneca East will play host to its annual Stars, Stripes, & Lights cross-country meet. The meet is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. and races will go off throughout the night with the last one starting at 11:55 p.m. Over 2,000 runners will be participating throughout the evening and many military recruiting booths will be set up on site. Each race is started with fireworks and there will be a special ceremony of remembrance during the meet. As part of the ceremony, skydivers will be landing during the National Anthem, and special patriotic music will be performed live. Pinning Ceremony In addition to hosting the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, Seneca East will host a Pinning Ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. The purpose of the ceremony is to formally pin any veteran who served in the US Armed Forces (any branch, any location, combat and non-combat) between 1955 and 1975 (Vietnam Era). These veterans will be recognized and pinned in a dignified manner while standing in front of The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall as part of the 5 p.m. ceremony. There is no need to RSVP. Those veterans wishing to be pinned are asked to please arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. on Sunday to check in at the white tent located on the west side of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. The ceremony will include the Color Guard, special renditions of music, a bagpiper, and a remembrance of the 27 Seneca County Vietnam Veterans who were KIA (killed in action). In addition to this, taps, a rifle salute, and a tolling of the bells will take place. We encourage all veterans who served between 1955 and 1975 to attend, including those from not only Seneca East Schools but around the entire county and state. We are honored to be able to provide this sacred memorial to our community and ask that you come forward to be recognized so we may thank you for your service to this great nation. Any family wishing to attend for a deceased Vietnam veteran may also do so and receive a special pin in remembrance of them. To all veterans reading this, we close with a message inscribed on the back of each pin: "A grateful nation (and our community) thanks and honors you." If you have any questions about these events, contact the event coordinator, Matt Schock, at mschock@se-tigers.com or 419-618-8974.