Antioch hosting Vietnam Veterans Memorial ‘Wall That Heals'; ‘This is simply a very hard and touching honor to pay tribute to them'
Seeing the chevron-shaped monument at the Tim Osmond Sports Complex in Antioch was nothing short of impactful to many in attendance. Even more so, when illuminated at night.
'This means a great deal to me for several reasons, as one of my very best friends and several others I know who gave their lives are on this wall,' Steve MacInnes said. 'This wall is a symbol for Vietnam veterans who are not forgotten, and who will always be remembered.'
Opening ceremonies were held on Thursday morning. The memorial is situated on the football field at 39 Depot Street until Sunday, and is open for viewing around the clock. The Vietnam Memorial Fund administers the schedule for the exhibit, now in its 30th year.
The municipality was selected as one of 31 hosting locations in 2025, from a pool of 163 communities that applied for the exhibit. It was largely done through the application efforts of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and Barbara Porch, its executive director.
'The Antioch Chamber has been interested in hosting this for several years,' Porch said. 'The chamber applied in 2024, and was successful in being given this opportunity. We feel that Antioch is a perfect place because of the willingness of our residents, and those in the surrounding communities, to become involved.
'It is important for young people of today to look forward to the future, but equally important for them to look back and learn what our country experienced to bring us to the present day,' she said. 'There are so many things to learn about history. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is an outstanding salute to our veterans, and we hope young people learn by visiting.'
The original memorial was designed by artist Maya Lin as two long black granite walls that are 246 feet each in a 'V' shape, cut into a bluff. The key feature is duplicated in its traveling counterpart, as the exhibit rises above visitors in walking toward the apex.
Volunteers are on-site throughout the display's Antioch stay, acting as docents in guiding tours, while security is also provided. Visitors are encouraged to make rubbings from the indented names of family and friends on the panels.
'I'm the son of a Greatest Generation World War II combat veteran,' Michael Keshan, a site volunteer, said. 'Having friends who served in Vietnam and several who did not come home, this is simply a very hard and touching honor to pay tribute to them.'
Chamber member and volunteer Cruzanne Lewis said, 'This is a tremendous undertaking by people giving time, who will be there all night … to be a presence and assist. There is also a strict decorum. They wore white gloves to install the panels, and they are set in a way that no car headlights will shine on the memorial.'
MacInnis noted, 'This is constantly a reminder of a time that was not perhaps the best in our world, in our country. Yet, there isn't one Vietnam veteran who wouldn't tell you they weren't there for their brothers and sisters. They would do it again, if they had to do it.'
A special ceremony, 'Eight Women On The Wall — A Nursing Tribute,' is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday. Closing ceremonies are scheduled for 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.
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