1,000 Flags Memorial, Newport, Oregon

In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (aka The Wall) was dedicated in Washington D.C. to honor veterans and the 58,000 Americans killed in the Vietnam War. The Wall is a jet black stone wall bearing the names of every American lost in the Vietnam. It is a destination for thousands of people seeking to honor friends and family who didn’t make it home.

A traveling 80% scale representation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial called American Veterans Traveling Tribute was created for those unable to make the trip to Washington DC. This traveling tribute came to Newport, Oregon yesterday.

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute is a centerpiece of Newport’s 2010 Loyalty Days celebration. The traveling wall made a stop in Lincoln City a few years ago, drawing crowds of veterans and family members that came to honor those they had lost.

The arrival of the memorial was in conjunction with the 1000 Flags display, a bridge walk over Newport’s Yaquina Bay. Participants all carried American Flags.  We hope local residents and visitors take advantage of this opportunity to see this impressive and sobering monument.

The 1000 flag walk across the Yaquina Bay Bridge was followed by a spaghetti feed provided by Rogue Nation at the Rogue brewery. Loyalty Days events continue today and throughout the weekend. More information on individual events can be found here  http://www.loyaltydays.com
American Veterans Traveling Tribute info can be found here http://www.avtt.org