Last week Pigeon Forge saw a piece of history placed in Patriot Park. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall was displayed at the park from August 13-17th for Celebrate Freedom. Celebrate Freedom is a celebration, which is produced by the Pigeon Forge Office of Special Events every year. Aside from many other activities, the wall is an added touch, which allows local veterans the opportunity to pay respect to friends and family lost during the Vietnam War.
A tent was set up close to the wall, which contained lap top computers. City volunteers manned the machines containing a large database, which allowed them to look up names and wall locations for those inquiring about a specific person.
Pencils and paper were also provided to visitors so they could trace a relative or friends name and keep it as a memento.
The missing soldiers were denoted with a plus sign next to their name, while deceased soldiers had diamonds next to their names. Soldiers who were missing and later confirmed deceased have a diamond superimposed over a plus sign. Should a service member who is missing ever return alive, a circle will be inscribed around the plus sign next to the name. To date, no such symbols are on the wall.
Any changes made to the wall, such as addition of names or changes, are etched into the wall around Memorial Day in the spring or Veterans Day in the fall.
Sevier County residents honored on the wall are: Carroll David Abbott, Estel Huskey, Dannie Arthur, Jerry McCarter, Randy Ralph Cogdill, and Eddie Manis.

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