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Ross to address Friday
opening of traveling Vietnam Memorial
Replica of wall in nation's capital will be in Bremerton three days
As a U.S. Navy sailor in
the early 1990s,
Rep. Charles Ross served with
Vietnam veterans. It will be them and their fallen comrades he remembers
when speaking at the traveling Vietnam Memorial when it opens Friday
morning in Bremerton. The wall, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in
Washington, D.C., will formally open at 10 a.m. Friday and remain open
around-the-clock until 7 p.m. Sunday.
"I know how powerful and
moving the Vietnam Wall in the 'other Washington' is supposed to be, and
from what I understand the Wall coming to Bremerton is being met with
the same sort of emotions. It will be an honor for me just to be there,
much less to offer a few words," said Ross, R-Naches.
Ross is a licensed funeral
director in Yakima with ties to the Dignity Memorial network of funeral
providers, which created the three-quarter-scale memorial. He leapt at
the opportunity to participate after learning the non-commercial
exhibit, which travels around the U.S. each year, would make its only
Washington stop in Bremerton, while going from California to Indiana.
"Not everybody can travel
to Washington, D.C. to see the full-size Wall, so this Wall is a real
service. It'll be in one place for 72 hours over a weekend, which is as
convenient as can be for people traveling from the far reaches of our
state. I'm looking forward to being there Friday morning and hope other
veterans from our area are able to attend as well sometime this
weekend," said Ross.
Admission is free to see
the Wall, at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park, 5505 Kitsap Way, Bremerton.
A tribute is scheduled for noon Saturday, followed by a musical tribute
at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks. The memorial will close at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Contact: Rep. Ross, (360) 786-7856 or (509) 653-2340
Eric Campbell, House Republican Communications, (360) 786-7720
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