07/06/2007

Traveling wall of remembrance makes its way north

Memorial Wall honors all who have served

By EMMY PARSONS

eparsons@record-eagle.com

Special to the Record-Eagle
The traveling wall will be open for viewing 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 13, 14, and 15.

PESHAWBESTOWN — When the call to duty came for thousands of men during the Vietnam War, many area Native American tribe members were among those drafted.

But because of the speed with which the men left, several were never honored with a traditional ceremony. Some never came home.

"A lot of Natives, when you get the call, when you're going away, you get a send-off, but they were going so fast in the '60s and '70s that you didn't have a chance. There was no closure,” said Geneva "Mikki” Pino of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and commander of American Legion Post #120.

Now, nearly 40 years later, Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos — the economic development arm of the Grand Traverse Band — hopes to honor those who served by bringing the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to northern Lower Michigan. The wall will first make an appearance in the National Cherry Festival's Junior Royale Parade on Thursday, and then will be set up near the Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown for public viewing from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 13, 14 and 15.

"The wall is a place to bring closure, to shed a tear, to say 'I miss you,' to say 'I love you,'” Pino said. "Our men can finally hold their heads high and be proud that they answered the call to their country.”

The effort to bring the wall to the area spanned several months and included the Grand Traverse Band, many local veterans groups and several area law enforcement agencies. By featuring the wall here, organizers hope to honor all men and women who served in all conflicts, including the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I look at it more as something that we can do for the community that brings the community together and gives a focus to some of our grief,” said Joe Kau-Be-Naw, special events coordinator for Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos. "We've lost brothers and sisters and sons and daughters in the current war, and it's kind of like a lightning rod for that emotional focus.” This is the first time that the wall will come to the region as part of the larger American Veteran's Traveling Tribute. The tribute includes displays honoring the men and women from all wars and conflicts dating as far back as the Revolutionary War and continuing through the current wars.

"It's a great way to kind of tie the wall to what's going on currently,” Kau-Be-Naw said.

The wall will be in the parking lot just north of the Eagletown Market in Peshawbestown. Special opening and closing ceremonies will take place each morning at 8 a.m. and each evening at 8 p.m.