THOMASTON — Escorted by approximately 200 motorcycles and a host of law enforcement vehicles, The Moving Wall arrived at Thomaston’s Knox Museum Thursday morning, May 26. As soon as wheels had been blocked and kickstands were down, veterans joined Moving Wall team members and immediately started assembling the wall for an opening at noon for school children, and for the general public at 1 p.m.

The wall will now be open for viewing 24 hours a day through 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31. Thursday’s noon opening was just the start of a weekend of activities. The Moving Wall is a half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

During a competition for the memorial’s design, 1,421 anonymous submissions were received. The criteria were that it be reflective and contemplative in character; harmonize with its surroundings; contain the names of those who had died in the conflict; make no political statement about the war.

According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial background information, entry number 1,026 was chosen by a jury of eight nationally recognized artists. A design by Maya Lin of Athens, Ohio, also an undergraduate at Yale University at the time, which was described by the judges as being “an eloquent place where the simple meeting of earth, sky and remembered names contains messages for all,” was selected as the winning design in 1981.

When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the moving power of the wall and vowed to share that experience with those who did not have that opportunity to go to Washington.

He and other veteran volunteers built the Moving Wall in 1984.

For 32 years now two half-size walls tour the country from April through November, staying about a week in each location. The Knox Museum lobbied for three years to win the honor of exhibiting the Moving Wall.

Tobin Malone, executive director for the Knox Museum, said it was “simply unbelievable” to see the large turn out for the Moving Wall’s arrival.

“We even have people on the roof for heaven’s sake,” she said. “There are people everywhere. I’ve heard there were 200-plus motorcycles that came with the wall through Lincoln and Knox counties. Hundreds of people on the grounds and putting up the wall; it’s just grand.”

Malone said donations to help with set up and preparation of the grounds from people and businesses were also astounding.

“CMP put up three light posts, lights and are paying for the electricity,” she said. “The Home Depot Foundation donated, built and installed the big stage in front of Montpelier. The Department of Corrections donated and built the walk that goes along the wall. Diana Bean and Linda Bean, Camden National, there are so many and it’s all just wonderful the way everybody helped.”

Malone said the wall is open around the clock, except that it will close for special ceremonies. A full schedule can be found here: The Moving Wall at Knox Museum

Sandy Orluk, volunteer coordinator for the Moving Wall, said she could still use some volunteers to be at the wall in case of an emergency and to answer questions and provide direction to visitors.

“I have some holes in the middle of the night,” she said. “We have to man and light the memorial 24 hours a day. I could use three or four people for each night.”

If you are interested in being a volunteer, call Sandy at 354-7250.