It was with great pride and enthusiasm that the Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation hosted the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall from July 3, 2008 to July 7, 2008. Over a five day span, tens of thousands of visitors were able to experience this incredible memorial.

The Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation, working in conjunction with the city of Thornton, arranged to have this extraordinary memorial present before, during and after the city’s Independence Day celebration. the presence of the memorial made for an absolutely incredible weekend.

Photos from the event

Slideshow # 1
Images courtesy Shannon Vermilye. For more information, please email vermin72@gmail.com.

Slideshow #2

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Event Wrap Up

The Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation (TVMF) embarked on a mission to bring the “Wall” to the City of Thornton over six months ago. What started as a casual suggestion by one of the TVMF members quickly grew into an entire weekend of events spanning five days, all surrounding the Wall. The morning of July 3, 2008 started with the rumble of motorcycles and classic military vehicles as over 250 of them escorted the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to the Thornton Multipurpose Fields near 108th and Colorado Boulevard. Dozens of volunteers helped assemble the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall and transformed a corner of the park into hallowed ground devoted to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this nation.

A benefit dinner, opening and closing ceremonies, patriotic music performances, a flag retirement ceremony and much more helped to truly make the July 4th weekend unlike any the City of Thornton has ever seen. All of this of course was done in the shadow of the “Wall”. Bearing the names of over 58,000 men and women, The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall pays homage to the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who gave the last full measure of devotion to the United States of America.

The weekend was a tremendous success for the Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation and our efforts to build a veterans memorial in Thornton. For five days we had the attention of the entire Denver Metropolitan area and we raised over $25,000 toward the construction of the Thornton Veterans Memorial.

A Call to Arms

This is only the start, a kickoff of our efforts and the beginning of a long process of raising funds, and building, to make the Thornton Veterans Memorial a reality. The appearance of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall serves as a reminder of just how important the Thornton Veterans Memorial will be and the healing and learning that will happen because of it. These memorials serve to honor our veterans and are but a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices these brave men and women have made.

As the closing ceremony of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was completed, and the flags were retired, we were blessed to stand in a place where we know that someday, the City of Thornton will have its own veterans memorial. This can only happen if we all become “watchmen on the wall” and give with the same sacrificial attitude that those who have given their lives for our country. Donating financially is a small way that we can honor those veterans for protecting our national freedom. Building the Thornton Veterans Memorial will represent the honor of our national veteran heroes.

It is with all of this in mind that the Thornton Veterans Memorial Foundation issues a “call to arms.” We have been working for the last three years to make the memorial a reality. Now is the time for the entire Denver metropolitan community to step forward and help us.

Please give now. You can make contributions, buy paver bricks and learn more about the project on our website at www.thorntonveteransmemorial.org or by calling 303-563-7046.

Thank you for your generous support.

 

For more information, please see:

July 10, 2008 - Northglenn - Thornton Sentinel article about the event

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