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Vietnam Veterans Memorial comes to Parkston

Department of Defense

The interview posted above is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment, hosted by Lori Walsh.

If you can't travel to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., there's an opportunity for the "wall that heals" to come to you.

For one week, a replica of the memorial will be on display in Parkston, South Dakota. The event is part of an ongoing effort for the nation to honor Vietnam veterans who did not receive warm welcomes when they first returned from war, as well as those who never came home.

Rob Monson, educator and Desert Storm veteran, helped to organize the event. He says the treatment of Vietnam veterans who returned from combat inspired him to bring the wall to Parkston.

"The welcome home that we received when we all came back was incredible." said Monson "I credit a lot of that to the Vietnam guys and gals because we learned from that. That's what history is about. You need to learn from history, and I think America learned from that, that we can do better."

There are more than 58,000 names on the wall. The Memorial in Parkston will be erected June 30. For a full list of events, including exhibits and entertainment, visit Parkstoncelebration.com

Carl Norquist is a producer and writer for In the Moment. An EMMY-winning producer, Carl previously worked for KTIV News 4 in Sioux City, IA. Carl is a Minnesota native and graduate of Augustana University with majors in Art and English.
Lori Walsh is the host and senior producer of In the Moment.