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Vietnam Combat Veterans refuses to set up Moving wall at American Indian Exposition

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Monday, 09 August 2010

Vietnam Combat Veterans refuses to set up Moving wall at American Indian Exposition By Brian Daffron, Today correspondent Story Published: Aug 9, 2010 ANADARKO, Okla. – During the first week of August each year, several Oklahoma tribes meet in Anadarko to make the annual American Indian Exposition a success. Now in its 79th year, one of this year’s major scheduled events was supposed to be the display of “The Moving Wall,” a trademarked replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Money had been raised throughout the year through benefit gourd dances and other fundraising activities in order to pay the $4,500 application fee and other expenses, and expectations were high. But when veterans of all nationalities gathered for the opening ceremonies on Aug. 5, there was no Moving Wall. Instead, there was nothing but the wooden stand that volunteers made to fit the specifications as requested by Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. – the White Pine, Mich.-based company who owns the Moving Wall – and the heartbreaking disappointment of an entire community. “People were very disappointed,” said Sherman Chaddlesone, an elected member of the Kiowa Business Committee and a Vietnam veteran who was in attendance. “They expressed that, each one that got up to speak on the mike – a lot of sadness.” Chaddlesone said those who spoke to the crowd spoke of both the Natives and non-Natives of Caddo County who anticipated seeing the wall, as well as those veterans who would attend the expo for the first time because of the Wall. “Now that’s taken away.” Indian Country Today obtained an e-mail from the American Indian Exposition written to the head of Vietnam Combat Veterans, John Devitt. According that, a Moving Wall official named Lisa Grey told the American Indian Exposition “in a very antagonistic manner, that we could not have anything within 100 yards of the Wall, we could not charge for parking, and that our foundation was not level or straight.” The American Indian Exposition countered in the e-mail that paid parking for the dance competitions and carnival were on a side of the Caddo County Fairgrounds completely opposite of the Moving Wall location, and that parking for the Moving Wall area was free and plentiful. In addition, the American Indian Exposition said they abided by the regulations for the Moving Wall’s framework and had it independently inspected by one of the Caddo County Commissioners. An effort was made by ICT to contact the Vietnam Combat Veterans organization, but no call was returned by press time. KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City reported on the evening of Aug. 5 that Vietnam Combat Veterans said the application fee would be returned to the American Indian Exposition. However, exposition secretary Tracey Redbird Gabehart said Vietnam Combat Veterans had not contacted anyone with the exposition board. “Our primary concern was the wall,” Gabehart said through text message when asked about whether or not the exposition would seek a refund. “We just wanted the event for our veterans.” The display of the Moving Wall would have been a first for Caddo County. According to the expo’s e-mail, among the names on the wall are 27 service personnel from Caddo County and 35 of Oklahoma’s American Indian veterans. This includes the name of First Sergeant Pascal Cleatus Poolaw, a Kiowa tribal member who is the most decorated Indian soldier in U.S. history. “There was a lot of expense and effort exerted to have the site ready,” said Chaddlesone, who referred to the complaints attributed to Grey as “nitpicking.” “I think they should bring it over here at their expense, time and resources.” http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/Moving-Wall-refuses-to-set-up-at-American-Indian-Exposition-100257249.html

 

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