Vietnam wall honors those who died

On display through Sunday

MOSES LAKE - There are 58,253 names etched into the American Veterans Traveling Tribute wall in Moses Lake.

The wall, honoring veterans who died while serving in Vietnam, is on display at the Grant County Fairgrounds through Sunday at 8 p.m.

It is the largest traveling wall in the country and an 80 percent sized replica of the memorial wall based in Washington, D.C.

Steve Doty, who founded the traveling wall with Don Allen, spoke to a large crowd at an opening ceremony Thursday.

Doty said the wall's mission is to honor, respect and remember those who served.

"It is our duty," he said. "No exceptions. No reservations. It has to be done."

In addition to being about respect and honor, the wall is about celebrating freedom and standing up for America, he said.

Doty read his poem during the opening ceremony Thursday, titled, "The Eye of the Veteran."

One passage reads: "In the eye of our great veteran you will see wars they have endured, they strongly salute our country - America's freedom they have ensured."

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 13-1 worked with American Veterans Traveling Tribute to bring the wall to Moses Lake, said Chapter Commander Bill Davis.

On Wednesday, the wall arrived in Moses Lake, escorted by hundreds of motorcycle riders while bystanders watched from West Broadway Avenue. American flags and P.O.W. flags lines the street welcoming the event into the city.

"My observation is (Wednesday), Vietnam veterans got the welcome home they never got before," Davis said at the opening ceremony. "Thank you, Moses Lake."

Families, students and others visited the wall during opening day.

Emma Brown, 15, said she and her classmates traveled from Harrington, Wash., to see the wall. Their history teacher Mike Cronrath brought them.

"It's kind of unbelievable," said classmate Lacey Hirst, 15.

"I also think it's like unbelievable, how many names," echoed Justyne Talkington, 15.

Cronrath said the students traveled to Moses Lake to see the wall during their summer break. Every two years he takes his students to Washington, D.C., through Smithsonian Student Travel to see the actual wall. The students finance the trip themselves, and many are unable to go, he said.

"To have this here allowed them to come down and be able to take part, without having to go back East," he said.

Mark and Teri Kramer of Harrington are sponsors of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and told Cronrath about the event.

Teri Kramer said their son visited the Washington, D.C., wall as a student.

"My son just totally dissolved at the real wall," she said.

Moses Lake resident Heidi Whitney said her dad served in World War II, her son completed two tours in Iraq, her older brother served in the Navy and her younger brother served in several wars, including Iraq.

"I just want to honor all of the soldiers that have taken care of our nation forever," Whitney said.

Christine Wilson, of Colville, Wash., said she saw the wall in Washington, D.C., on a rainy day.

"The whole sky was crying," she said.

Moses Lake residents David and Pam Lester searched with their children for the name of a church member David knew from Iowa. The man died at 18 years old.

Asked how he felt about seeing his friend's name on the wall, David Lester remained silent, but there were tears in his eyes.

Pam Lester said it is difficult.

"It's awesome to see the way Moses Lake came out and supported the vets the way they did," she said.

Local soldiers who died while serving in the Vietnam War according to the National Archives and Records Administration:

• Richard Dennis Ator, Moses Lake, Army, hostile death

• Glen Robert Barnhill, Wilson Creek, Army, hostile death

• Robert Richard Bradley, Moses Lake, Army, hostile death

• Stanley Alan Carter, Moses Lake, Army, hostile death

• Reynaldo Roy Cavazos, Quincy, Army, hostile death

• Victor M. Hodson, Moses Lake, Army, non-hostile death

• Jason Aireal Holes, Moses Lake, Army, hostile death

• Alan Hans Holm, Othello, Army, hostile death

• Danny Wayne Jarvis, Mesa, Army, hostile death

• Allen Gene Kinne, Mesa, Army, hostile death

• Kerry Brent Love, Mesa, Army, non-hostile death

• Michael John Masterson, Ephrata, Air Force, hostile death, body was not recovered

• Gerald Wayne McConnel Jr., Moses Lake, Army, hostile death

• Daryl Gene Meidinger, Moses Lake, Army, hostile death

• Clement Joseph Morisette, Othello, Navy, non-hostile death

• Kazuto Moriwaki, Moses Lake, Army, non-hostile death

• Hector Lopez Ruiz, Othello, Army, non-hostile death

• Thomas John Shriner, Royal City, Army, hostile death

• Douglas Frank Strait, Moses Lake, Army, hostile death, body was not recovered

• Thomas Peter Visker, Warden, Army, hostile death

• Gerald Albert Kulm, Ritzville, Army, hostile death

Help us complete the list of local people from Grant or Adams counties who died while serving in the Vietnam War. Add their information by commenting below.