For a community to host the Moving Wall is an honor and a testament of its dedication to honoring those who have served – to do so twice is an even rarer honor. It should come as no surprise then that Friday’s opening ceremony went on despite a sudden storm, albeit in an abbreviated form.

“Each and every one of the names on that wall didn’t care about the rain,” said Doug Brannon, co-chair of the committee that organized the Moving Wall’s visit.

While the laying of the memorial wreath and recognition of veteran’s names on the wall with the accompanying placement of roses will instead be held at 6 p.m. tonight during a memorial service for prisoners of war, the bulk of Friday’s ceremony continued as intended. The ceremony included a welcome and recognition of guests by Columbiana County Fair Board Ex-Officio Dun Humphrey Jr., invocation and closing prayer by Leetonia American Legion Post #131 Commander Christy Griffin, the presentation of the colors by the Ellsworth Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9571 Honor Guard, remarks from Brannon, who serves as commander of Salem VFW Post 892, and a gun volley and the playing of taps by the honor guard.

The event was attended by several Vietnam veterans, as well as special guest John Devitt, the chairman and founder of the Moving Wall. After attending the 1982 annual commemoration ceremonies in Washington for Vietnam veterans, Devitt felt mobile monuments were needed so that those unable to visit the wall in D.C. could share in the moving experience of visiting the memorial.

Doug Brannon, Salem VFW Post 892 commander and co-chair of the committee that organized the Moving Wall’s visit, offers the evening’s featured remarks. Brannon championed the efforts of veterans who returned home from Vietnam to improve a country which was not always grateful for their service. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

First displayed 40 years ago in Tyler, Texas, the last time the wall, which is an exact half-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., was hosted at the fairgrounds was in 2014. The 254-foot wall bears the names of over 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, including 36 Columbiana County natives and four Mahoning County natives, and has visited over 1,500 communities and even other countries.

The efforts to bring the wall back to Columbiana County were once again spearheaded by Brannon and fellow co-chair Sharon Cope, Arts and Craft director for the fairgrounds who also organized the Moving Wall’s 2014 visit. Cope and Brannon described successfully organizing the wall’s return as “the ultimate achievement.”

“Words can’t describe it, we never thought that this would happen,” said Brannon.

Cope said that Griffin had suggested she and Brannon work to bring the wall back at a post event they attended.

“They felt that the Vietnam veterans were starting to get up there in age and that it was time to honor them again,” said Cope.

Shown is Chairman and Founder of the Moving Wall John Devitt, who will be in attendance as a special guest for all this weekends’ ceremonies. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Cope said that to bring the wall to one’s community people must send in a formal application to the Moving Wall in Michigan and book the dates for the visit, including information about where the walls will be housed, what ceremonies are planned, and even other potential events in the area during the period. Cope also said that she and Brannon were unaware that this year marked the 40th anniversary of the Moving Wall and that Devitt would be visiting with the wall until after they’d signed the contract.

All this organizational work, as well as the actual construction of the wall, is done entirely by volunteers, with Brannon explaining that applicants receive a manual with all the necessary specifications for the Moving Wall’s staging and assembly, which must be completed prior to the arrival of the wall and escort convoy. Brannon said that there was a group of roughly 20 volunteers that worked until 1 a.m. Wednesday, laying sand and pavers by hand to ensure the setup was complete, and that the wall is being guarded by volunteers 24/7 until its departure, which he said is a testament to the dedication of the local volunteer community.

“It’s all done by volunteers, and it’s a lot of work, but each of those names deserves it,” said Brannon.

Brannon said that it was that crew of volunteers that should be recognized for making the Moving Wall’s return possible. Brannon and Cope also said that Leetonia resident Ronald Stauffer, himself a veteran and friend of Devitt, also played a significant role in helping to organize the Moving Wall’s return.

In addition to today’s ceremony, Sunday will feature the annual Recognition Ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Arts & Crafts Building for veterans who were nominated for the 2024 presentation of the patriotic quilts displayed at this year’s fair.

Leetonia American Legion Post 131 Commander Christy Griffin offers the closing prayer. (Photo by Morgan Ahart

Despite a sudden storm, Friday’s opening ceremonies for the Vietnam Moving Wall went on in an abbreviated form. The laying of the memorial wreath and recognition of veteran’s names on the wall with the accompanying placement of roses will instead be held at 6 p.m. tonight during a memorial service for prisoners of war. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Despite a sudden storm, Friday’s opening ceremonies for the Vietnam Moving Wall went on in an abbreviated form. The laying of the memorial wreath and recognition of veteran’s names on the wall with the accompanying placement of roses will instead be held at 6 p.m. tonight during a memorial service for prisoners of war. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Despite a sudden storm, Friday’s opening ceremonies for the Vietnam Moving Wall went on in an abbreviated form. The laying of the memorial wreath and recognition of veteran’s names on the wall with the accompanying placement of roses will instead be held at 6 p.m. tonight during a memorial service for prisoners of war. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Chairman and Founder of the Moving Wall John Devitt, right, and Sharon Cope, Arts and Craft director for the fairgrounds and co-chair of the committee that organized the Moving Wall’s visit, pose with a special quilt commemorating Devitt’s visit following the opening ceremony Friday. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Despite a sudden storm, Friday’s opening ceremonies for the Vietnam Moving Wall went on in an abbreviated form. The laying of the memorial wreath and recognition of veteran’s names on the wall with the accompanying placement of roses will instead be held at 6 p.m. tonight during a memorial service for prisoners of war. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

Despite a sudden storm, Friday’s opening ceremonies for the Vietnam Moving Wall went on in an abbreviated form. The laying of the memorial wreath and recognition of veteran’s names on the wall with the accompanying placement of roses will instead be held at 6 p.m. tonight during a memorial service for prisoners of war. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)