Replica of Vietnam Wall arrives at Rose Hills

Posted: 03/22/2012 04:41:44 PM PDT

A motorcycle escort comprised of 70 riders (including veterans groups, the Patriot Guard, and members of the community), cars and a secondary semi-trailer, lead a semi-trailer transporting the Dignity Memorial® Vietnam Wall at Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary in Whittier on Thursday March 22, 2012. The Dignity Memorial® Vietnam Wall, a three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Keith Durflinger/Staff Photographer)

WHITTIER - The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, a three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., arrived at 2:05 p.m. today at Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3888 Workman Mill Road, for a weeklong public event.

It was escorted by a motorcade of 70 veterans and other riders from motorcycle clubs.

It was followed by a Purple Heart Ceremony.

The wall will be open for viewing beginning Friday and continuing through March 30. The opening ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, beginning with a prelude concert at 6:30 p.m.

The replica - 8 feet tall and 240 feet long - will be open to the public 24 hours a day. The replica is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who died or went missing in Vietnam.

Paper and pencils will be provided so visitors can make rubbings of names etched on the wall.

A display of Vietnam-era vehicles will be on hand, and "Taps" will be performed daily around sunset following a blessing at the Wall.

A veteran's resource fair will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The fair will feature nearly 50 organizations and businesses that provide services to veterans.

American War Mothers, Whittier Chapter 6, will be hosting a booth from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

A candlelight vigil for prisoners of war and personnel missing in action will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 562-699-0921.