Military Connection: AV Wall in Simi Valley: By Debbie Gregory

In 2005, the citizens of Southern California’s Antelope Valley got the idea to build a half-scale model of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Over the next few years, the community raised over $100,000 dollars to cover the costs of what would later be known as the Mobile Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the Antelope Valley (AV Wall).

The original, full-scale Vietnam Veterans Memorial is on display in Washington D.C., and consists of the names of the 58,000 service members who died in the war. The AV Wall, completed in 2009, has been providing Veterans and members of the community with a focal point for remembrance and reflection.

Every year, April through November, the AV Wall is made available for other communities to host. Host communities pay a fee to cover travel, storage and maintenance of the AV Wall. This May, the AV Wall will be on display in the city of Simi Valley, the home town of Military Connection.

May 22-28, the AV Wall will be on exhibit for 24 hour public access at the Rancho Tapo Community Park (aka Lemon Park) Veterans Plaza, located at 3700 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley, CA 93063.

The festivities begin at 8:00 am on Thursday May 22. The AV Wall will be escorted by the Patriot Riders, Rolling Thunder and Blue Riders as it transits from the Grand Vista Hotel (999 Enchanted Way) along Town Center Way and Alamo St to the Veterans Plaza at Rancho Tapo Community Park. Everyone is invited to line the sidewalks of the route to wave American flags, show your support for Veterans and welcome the AV Wall.

The staff at Military Connection urges the people living in and near Simi Valley, CA to show their support for all Veterans, but especially Vietnam Veterans, by lining the AV Wall’s travel route, and by visiting the exhibit while it is on display. Visiting the exhibit is free, but donations will be accepted and go towards the funding of the activities.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard & Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.