Moving Wall, half-scale replica of Vietnam War Memorial will be on display in Temecula Oct. 9-13

Area residents are about to get a chance to experience the Vietnam War Memorial without having to travel to Washington D.C., thanks to the efforts of one local man. Johnny Roberts, director at Manzanita Ranch, first applied to have the Moving Wall, a half-scale replica of the popular memorial, come to Temecula about three years ago.

“I went online and researched it, filled out the form and I didn’t hear from them so I kind of forgot about it,” Roberts said. “Three years after that I got a call and they said, ‘we know you’ve been on the waiting list for a while but you are in the queue now and you are up next.’”

Roberts, a veteran himself, was told the date was set for Oct. 9 through 13. The memorial will be set up in Sam Hicks Monument Park and will be illuminated at night. It will be open for viewing 24 hours a day during its time in Temecula. Like D.C.’s Vietnam War Memorial there is no cost to visit the Moving Wall which is almost 252 feet long.

“I knew where I wanted to put it. Sam Hicks Park is the only place that makes sense,” he said. “We can’t do anything commercial around the wall. It has to be a very reverent place. It’s the perfect place.”

Roberts said getting the process started was easy. He just requested the monument online and drafted a proposal for city leaders who approved it on the first submission. Now the tough part begins; locating sponsors and the dozens of volunteers needed to make The Wall’s visit to Temecula a success.

“We are looking for sponsors and volunteers to help out now,” said Roberts who has been involved in service through organizations such as Rotary. “I think service is an important part of our lives.”

There are over 59,000 names on the wall and volunteers are needed to serve as docents to help visitors locate the names they are searching for on The Wall. There is also a need for readers as well for the reading of the names ceremony.

Roberts said it will cost about $10,000 to bring The Wall to Temecula so events are being planned to help defray the cost.

On Friday, Oct. 10, the Rotary Club of Lake Elsinore will host a concert at Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium. On Saturday, Oct. 11, the group will host a parade-style motorcycle ride to The Wall. The ride, called Run to The Wall, will include an escorted group ride down I-15 to Old Town Temecula. The ride will be followed by a concert Saturday afternoon by the Inland All-Stars, a group of musicians who will perform music from the Vietnam War era. The concert will be held at the Old Town Pub & Grub.

On Sunday, Oct. 12, a cruise with classic cars and hot rods will take place. Cruise to The Wall will begin at the Wildomar VFW Post. Like Run to The Wall, it will have an escort down I-15 and be followed by a concert performed by the Inland All-Stars, referred to by Roberts as “the best musicians in the local area.” Sunday’s concert will be held at The Stampede.

“They will recreate the soundtrack of the Vietnam War Era,” he said. “We brought together the best musicians in the local groups to do that.”

Both venues are donating their locations to the cause. The musicians making up the Inland All-Stars have also agreed to volunteer their time to help make The Wall’s trip to Temecula a success.

Roberts said he has been overwhelmed by the support from the local community as he continues to plan for The Moving Wall’s arrival in just a few short weeks.

“The mayor said it’s going to be the largest event ever to come to Temecula,” Roberts said. “I knew The Wall would be important to me, but I had no idea it was going to be as big as it is.”

For more information, visit http://www.TheMovingWall2014.com.