Traveling Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Comes to Phoenix

Community Invited to Pay Respects to America's War Veterans


PHOENIX, Aug. 31  /PRNewswire/ -- The Dignity Memorial  Vietnam Wall, a three-quarter-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display Sept. 18 - 20 at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 W. Beardsley Rd. in Phoenix. Call 623-434-7000 for more information.

Free and open to the public 24 hours a day from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 20, the replica is eight feet high and 240 feet long. Its black, reflective surface is inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who died or are missing in Vietnam. Paper and pencils will be provided so visitors can make rubbings of names etched on the wall.

Created by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers in 1990, the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is dedicated to all Americans who served in Vietnam and honors all veterans of the U.S. military. The three-day exhibit is sponsored locally by Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary and VFW Post 9400.

"The monument was created as a service to those who might never travel to the nation's capital to experience the Vietnam Veterans Memorial firsthand," said Dan Salter, director of Dignity Memorial providers in the Phoenix area. "Our replica offers visitors a chance for healing and reflection, and we are very pleased to be able to share it with the community," he said.

Activities and ceremonies planned in conjunction with the exhibition include the following:

  --  A motorcade of Vietnam veterans and other riders from area motorcycle
      clubs will depart Buddy Stubbs Anthem Harley-Davidson in Anthem, Ariz.
      at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 to escort the replica to Phoenix Memorial
      Park, where it is scheduled to arrive around 4 p.m.
  --  Volunteers will construct the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall on
      Wednesday, Sept. 16.
  --  An Education Day on Thursday, Sept. 17 will make the replica available
      to pre-registered school groups from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  --  The exhibit will open to the public Friday, Sept. 18. Opening
      Ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. Guest speakers include state
      legislator Carl Seel, gubernatorial candidate Ben Jankowski and master
      of ceremonies Sarge Lintecum. Lintecum is a highly-decorated,
      three-tour Vietnam combat veteran. Well known for his recording
      "Vietnam Blues," Lintecum is a poet, singer, songwriter, musician and
      entertainer who uses his Vietnam experiences as inspiration for his
      powerful works.
  --  A silent auction from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday,
      Sept. 19, will benefit the VFW's efforts to provide assistance for
      local military families facing deployment.
  --  A sunset POW / MIA ceremony Saturday, Sept. 19 will include a
      candlelight vigil and the reading of the names of prisoners of war and
      those missing in action.

  --  Closing Ceremonies will begin at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 with a
      motorcycle salute to Vietnam veterans and will conclude the burial of
      the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vault of items and memorabilia left at
      the exhibit throughout the weekend. The burial ceremony will include a
      21-gun salute and the playing of taps.




After Phoenix, the exhibit will be on display in Houston, Texas, from September 25-27, 2009. To date, the replica has traveled to more than 200 cities across the country and has been visited by millions of Americans.

The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is one of many efforts of the Dignity Memorial network to honor and support our nation's veterans and active military. Other initiatives and programs include the Veterans Planning Guide, the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program, educational veterans seminars and special pricing and benefits for members of three veterans service organizations.

Phoenix Memorial Park is a proud Dignity Memorial provider in Phoenix. The Dignity Memorial network of more than 1,600 funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers is North America's most trusted resource for funeral and memorialization services. Dignity Memorial providers offer an unmatched combination of products and locations serving families with care, integrity, respect and service excellence. For more information, call 623-434-7000 or visit http://www.dignitymemorial.com/.

  Jennifer Lange Brandino
  Corporate Communications
  Service Corporation International
  1929 Allen Parkway
  Houston, TX  77019
  Direct 713-525-7484
  Mobile [phone]


DATASOURCE: Service Corporation International; Dignity Memorial



CONTACT:  Jennifer Lange Brandino, Corporate Communications of Service

Corporation International, [phone], mobile, [phone]



Web Site:  http://www.dignitymemorial.com/

http://www.sci-corp.com/ 

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