Building a Moving Tribute to Vets In Midville

After years of planning and organizing, the Moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was brought to Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village last weekend (June 29-July 2), honoring the service of the more than 59,000 American soldiers who died in the conflict. The wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and is brought to communities across the nation to help them pay tribute to those who died in the war. Sponsoring the wall’s stay in MIddle Village were the Queens Veterans’ Day Parade Committee, the United Veterans and Fraternal Organizations of Maspeth (UVFOM), Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32 and Maspeth Federal Savings. Local veterans and volunteers joined members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners in setting up the wall’s foundation last Wednesday, June 27. Escorted by a group of veterans on motorcycles, the wall was brought in pieces and assembled in the park the following day. Among those who participated were Salvatore Candela and Tania Broschart of the Queens Veterans Day Parade Committee (top photo, fifth and seventh from left) and Pat Toro of the Vietnam Veterans of America (bottom photo, 12th from left).