RICHMOND, IN — A new traveling memorial tribute will make its national premiere at the Wayne County Veterans Memorial Park from Sept. 11 to 14.
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute is bringing “Global War on Terror” to Richmond in correlation with the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11, rain or shine.
Adam Cecys, vice president of the park, an Army veteran and volunteer firefighter of the Abington Fire Department, is the coordinator of the event.
He said the event is aimed at mourning and celebrating the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives on 9/11 and during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The biggest thing is we want to honor our fallen and we want to help the ones that are still here,” he said. “A lot of guys come back with problems. A lot of guys live with those issues every day. Not just veterans, this event is geared for first responders as well. Your police, fire and EMS that clock in every day and see horrific things.”
On Sept. 10, the night before the tribute is displayed nationally for the first time, a ceremonial procession will start at Shelton Fireworks (6401 National Road E.) at 6 p.m., with staging to start at 5 p.m. It will travel westbound down U.S. 40 to South A Street, before concluding at Wayne County Veterans Memorial Park.
Starting at 8 p.m. that night and each night that follows during the display will be quiet time with a night guard on duty for anybody to visit and pay tribute.
“Nobody is going to get kicked out,” Cecys said. “There’s no events at night or anything, but that’s our quiet time. That’s where veterans heal. They come down and want to be by themselves.”
Cecys said the night guard will be made up of vetted individuals from veteran communities. Those interested in taking part can reach him at 765-238-9193.
Other volunteers are needed for such tasks as helping set up and tear down during the event, as well as serving food during a community brunch, lunch or dinner.
“There’s always volunteer opportunities and getting involved with the park and events,” Cecys said. “We encourage younger veterans to get involved, be a part of the park and the veteran entities around the community.”
Starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, a Patriots Day Road March to the park will begin at Casey’s in Centerville, 704 E. Main St. The march is spearheaded by Greg Jones, a committee member for the park.
“That is open to the public,” Cecys said. “Anybody is more than welcome to be there, wearing comfortable shoes, comfortable clothing to be able to be walking. Patriotic: flags, pictures of loved ones that were lost, representing anybody.”
At 8 a.m., the tribute will be officially unveiled. Cecys said the display is a 90-foot-long wall and 9 feet tall, with panels displaying the names of those killed during 9/11, from the first responders to the more than 2,000 citizens’ lives lost.
From 8:30 to 10 a.m., a ceremony will honor the 9/11 first responders. Indiana Sen. Jeff Raatz will deliver the event’s proclamation on 9/11.
The final event currently scheduled for Sept. 11 will be a community brunch sponsored by Golden Corral at 10:30 a.m.
At 8 a.m., Friday Sept. 12, the tribute will reopen alongside the Indiana Fallen Tributes, run by Indiana Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in battle.
“We welcome any Gold Star families to please attend,” Cecys said. “That display will be there all weekend long until Saturday evening.”
Other events going on Friday include a Veterans Memorial Blood Drive, with all blood donated given back to local hospitals, from 2 to 4 p.m.; a community dinner sponsored by Meijer at 4:30 p.m.; and live music from the Kyle LeMaster Band from 5 to 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to noon, Indiana Fallen will also hold a ceremony recoginizing three local veterans who lost their lives: Marine Lance Cpl. Layton Bradly Crass and Cpl. Johnathan Lahmann of Richmond and Staff Sgt. Frederick Miller of Hagerstown.
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Cecys said there will be on-site toxic exposure screenings for veterans to see whether they’ve been exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, diesel or fumes on ships, as well as a resources event that includes suicide prevention and VA benefits.
“Events like this help our veterans seek out resources that they wouldn’t always have,” he said. “Showing that it’s OK to get those resources and get the help you need at an event like this, on this level, I want that. You don’t have to hide it inside.”
At 9 a.m., a Wolf Pack Tribe 4×4 Jeep Show is open for anybody to participate with a $5 donation, with trophies also being given out. A community lunch will follow at noon.
Saturday’s events will also feature guest speakers Mecca Nelson, a Gold Star army spouse, two-time author, chaplain and grief and loss counselor, and retired Lt. Col. Luke Medvegy.
Cecys, as a veteran himself, said he felt it was his time to get involved. The tribute has been a year and a half in the making.
“It’s my time to step forward,” he said. “I wanted to try to help motivate younger veterans to say, ‘Hey, we need to step forward.’ It’s my generation’s time. The veteran community is slowly shrinking.
“This has been a huge operation among many vendors and organizations. You have Veterans Memorial Park. You have Marine Corps League Auxiliary. You have the American Legion, American VFW, AMVETS. I don’t think there’s not an organization in Wayne County that’s not veteran-related that hasn’t been involved with this. It’s been a lot of hard work among a lot of veteran people and a lot of people who really care.”
For anyone looking for more information about sponsorship and donation opportunites about the event, email waynecountyvetspark@gmail.com.
Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him on X (@evan_weaver7) or email at eweaver@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Unveiling of Global War on Terror Tribute to be held Sept. 11-14 at Wayne County veterans park
Reporting by Evan Weaver, Richmond Palladium-Item / Richmond Palladium-Item
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