Niagara Falls, N.Y. — A special tribute to our veterans comes to Western New York on Wednesday.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will make its way to Niagara Falls.
The wall will be escorted several miles through Niagara County by more than 500 motorcyclists from clubs like the Patriots Guard and American Legion Riders.
The wall will start at the Summit Park Mall around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and make a five mile procession along Niagara Falls Boulevard into Hyde Park.
That is where it will be set up in front of the Niagara Falls Veterans Memorial at the corner of Hyde Park Boulevard and Pine Avenue.
The wall is a 3/5th scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
It is going to take about five hours to actually set up the wall once it arrives Wednesday afternoon.
"It's never been in Niagara Falls," Stan Zimmerman, with the Niagara Falls Veterans Commission, said. "That's the reason why this commission wanted to do it. It's been in Pembroke, it's been to Lockport, it's been to Buffalo, it's been all around us. But it's never been to Niagara Falls and we know there's many, many people who can't travel, especially elderly people. They can't go to D.C."
It is an opportunity for all to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War.
There will be an opening ceremonies Thursday at noon at Hyde Park. They will read off the names of thirty Niagara Falls servicemen who lost their lives in the war.
The wall will be available for viewing around the clock through July 16.
Taps will be played every night at 8:30 by the American Legion Riders.
Throughout the wall's visit, there will be counseling centers in place at Hyde Park to offer veterans or their families help.
The wall will be located at the corner of Hyde Park Boulevard and Pine Avenue.