For the first time, Flagler County will be host to the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall this weekend. The memorial will be the featured attraction at the county's "Freedom Fest" at the Flagler Executive Airport.

  • Traveling memorial is a replica of original Washington D.C. memorial
  • Freedom Fest runs through November 13
  • For more information, visit flaglercountyfamilyfun.com

The memorial is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. Designed by architect Maya Lin and established in 1982. It lists the names of those who died in chronological order, starting with the first death in 1959.

Veteran Bob Keane searched the memorial wall to find the name of a friend who served with him in Vietnam.

"It's got to be row 30 or row 36" said Keane. "He was a ward of the state, boyhood friend."

He and another Vietnam veteran stood side-by-side Saturday, thankful they survived when so many others didn't, like the nearly 60,000 names that line the wall.

"When I returned from Vietnam Thanksgiving Day in '68, I was ready to kiss the ground," said Keane. "I consider myself a part of Americas 'Greatest Generation' because the people that sacrificed. I was there for 28 months so I saw a lot of heroic people."

People can visually see the most severe era of the war, at the highest part of the wall where there are more names of people who died.

"It's absolutely tremendous and to put all their names here that's a true honor," said a tearful Lila Bodman, who lost her cousin in the war. "I get very upset seeing his name and all these men."

Getting the traveling memorial to Flagler County took time, but officials had no doubt it would be worth the wait.

"It took us two years to be able to get the wall to come here," said Charlie Ericksen County Commissioner, District 1. "We made that reservation with them two years ago, and it finally came true."

Keane said seeing the names is upsetting, but it's also a way to say "thank you."

"I thank god everyday for our military, these are my heroes," said Keane.

Freedom Fest runs until around 10 p.m. Saturday night after the fireworks, then opens again Sunday morning. The memorial wall will be at the Flagler Executive Airport through Sunday at 3 p.m.