For years, Jesse Salcedo helped bring the traveling Vietnam Wall memorial to other towns.

Now he’s making plans to bring it to his part-time home town of Greeley Hill.

Salcedo, who has a home locally as well as in the Bay area, knows the creator of The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. In fact, he used to be part of the team that helped take the exhibit from place to place.

The exhibit’s name, “The Moving Wall,” has a double meaning. It literally moves, being packed up and transported by truck to a new location each week.

But the name also refers to the extraordinary impact that the replica, and the original memorial, have upon visitors.

Most war memorials have their focus on spectacular fountains, tall marble columns, and symbolic emblems. In contrast, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial consists of a walkway leading past numerous panels of polished black granite, erected side by side and engraved with thousands of names of those who died fighting in the conflict.

Families, friends, and former comrades-in-arms eagerly search the panels for their loved ones’ names. When they find them, they pause to touch the spot, make rubbings, and leave notes and mementoes.

For many, visiting The Wall is one of the most moving experiences of their lives. Few can pass by without being moved to tears by the memories and emotions The Wall evokes.

The Wall sparked controversy when the design was first unveiled, because it was so different. Some complained because it was so plain, because it didn’t include the traditional elements found in most war memorials.

But as it turned out, the concept was not only simple, but profound. It touches people in a way that few other monuments do.

Jesse Salcedo met John Devitt in 1982, shortly after Devitt attended the dedication of the full-size memorial in Washington, DC in 1982.

Devitt was so impressed by the impact on visitors of the memorial that he came up with a plan to take a replica of The Wall to those who did not have a chance to see the real thing in the nation’s capital.

Salcedo, who was involved with the Vietnam Combat Veterans organization, invited Devitt to join, and the VCV helped get the project off the ground.

The Moving Wall went on display 25 years ago, in October of 1984. The VCV group now has two Moving Wall replicas traveling the country.

The Moving Wall is not a profit-making effort; there is no charge to visitors to view it. The organization’s goal is to honor the casualties of the war, and give veterans and others a chance to experience the power and emotion of the memorial.

Salcedo said that, unfortunately, there have been “copycat” versions of The Moving Wall that have since been created and put on tour, some by for-profit organizations, like one that sells cemetery plots.

Some years ago, a beer company even created its own portable version of The Wall and put it on tour. Salcedo said the Vietnam Combat Veterans group took them to court and actually forced that effort to stop.

The tentative date for the local stop of The Moving Wall is Thursday, June 10, when setup begins, until Monday June 14, when takedown starts at 9 am.

He plans to put the memorial on display on the property owned by Ken Devoe behind Village Realty at Greeley Hill Road and Fiske Road. Devoe also owns Greeley Hill True Value Hardware.

Salcedo is seeking volunteers to erect a 2X4 wood frame to support The Wall, as well as people who can donate labor, particularly grading of the site, and supplies, such as lumber and screws.

“We will also need some electrical work to light the memorial at night,” Salcedo said.

Visitation will be available 24 hours a day, every day the memorial is up, he said.
Other needs will include portable toilets, water bottles, coffee pots, portable lights, chairs, tables, canopies, and donations of snacks for the volunteers.

Salcedo is also seeking donations of funds to help cover the cost of bringing the display here.

The cost to bring The Moving Wall display to Greeley Hill is about $4,600. As soon as the date is confirmed this month or next, he will be required to send in a $2,500 deposit. The balance will be due at the conclusion of the display.

“I am also looking for someone to sponsor some T-shirts and some posters to announce the display,” he added.

As the time draws nearer, volunteer meetings will be held so people can sign up for different tasks.

For information or to volunteer, contact Salcedo at jdsalcedo@earthlink.net, or call him at (209) 878-3302 or (650) 369-0383

Donations may be made out to: VCV Memorial Fund-Greeley Hill, California, and mailed to: c/o Jesse Salcedo, PO Box 620834, Woodside, CA 94062.

To learn more about the display, visit www.TheMovingWall.org.