The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall “The Wall That Heals”
Northern DE Pets for Vets Chapter Director Tim Lile volunteered to assist with the set up and take down of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall during its recent display in New Castle, DE. It is an exact 3/5 scale replica of the original memorial in Washington, DC. All 58,311 names of the fallen Veterans are engraved on the panels. To enable easier set up and transportation, the engraved panels are of a lighter material. The tradition of making a rubbing of a loved one’s name is encouraged. Local volunteers assist with the setup and take down of the frames and panels of the Wall.
The Wall travels all around the United States, sites are selected from applications, is set up outside and open 24 hours a day at each location. The 53-foot trailer that transports the Wall becomes part of the display with video displays of local heroes and information about the war. A database has been built to search by name, hometown, service branch and other parameters and includes photos of all but 18 of the fallen Veterans. As a show of respect to those memorialized on the Wall, there are no other displays or vending in the area.
Tim, a Vietnam Era Veteran himself, was enlightened by his experience of volunteering at the Wall and discovered:
1. Neither the Washington, DC Wall nor the Traveling Wall were federally funded; all funding was private.
2. Local Veterans (based on where the Traveling Wall is) are on display in the trailer.
3. Despite all the various locations and being open day and night there is no vandalism.
4. Vietnam Veterans who died from non-combat causes are also honored.
5. 400,000 items have been left at the Washington, DC Wall. They have been collected,cataloged and stored with respect.
6. Today, returning Veterans are greeted with a smile, a thank you and hugs; they know it is because the returning Vietnam Veteran were not.
The Washington, DC Wall, completed in 1979, honors all the fallen Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice. There were 8 female Veterans; the youngest was 15 years old. Previously, the memorials in Washington, DC were only for presidents but the idea of a memorial to honor Vietnam Veterans was proposed to Congress and accepted. The design of Maya Lin, a Yale undergraduate student, was selected from over 1400 submissions.
For additional information visit: www.travelingwall.us
Vet Fest 2021
Pets for Vets of Northern Delaware attended the Delaware 2021 VetFest in Middletown, DE. The event provides information to Veterans about the various services available to them in this area. It was well attended and the Chapter made several contacts with other support groups and Veterans. We are working with the contacts now to further our contributions to the region. We are looking forward to the event next year.
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Race 4 Warriors
Pets For Vets of Northern Delaware is the proud recipient of a donation from Race4Warriors. The Race4Warriors event honors our Middle East Veterans through Competition, Education, and Celebration.
The image you see is from the Bark Park in Newark, Delaware where Michael Bellerose, CMSgt (Ret) on the right from Race4Warriors presented the check to Tim Lile (Chapter Director for the Northern DE Pets for Vets Chapter) and Robert Green is with his Pets for Vets, companion animal Willow.
Please visit their website at Race4warriors.org for more information on their 2022 event.
Rotary Club of Brandywine Gives Generous Donation To Pest for Vets, DE
The Rotary Club of Brandywine Hundred held their Veterans Day observance in North Wilmington on Veterans Day. Along with a Mounted Police detail and Police Color guard with a background of 500 large American flags the Rotary Club held a meeting and donation award presentation. Pets for Vets was one of two recipients and Tim Lile was the keynote speaker.
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Brandywine Hundred for their very generous donation to our organization.
In Loving Memory of Alfred Fisher
As many of you know Alfred Fisher (our first match) passed away suddenly last August. Many of the wonderful friends he made at the Bark Park made a plaque in his honor. The friends, both two and four legged, met at the park and dedicated the plaque to him.
Woofwater supports Pets for Vets®
Woofwater was invented by a Marine veteran. Woofwater is 100% made in the USA. Each bottle hand finished and assembled in Austin, TX. We proudly support non-profit charities dedicated to helping pets and veterans. Woof Water currently supports Pets for Vets®. Pets for Vets® donated two Woofwater’s to each of the chapters. Thank you from the Veterans and the matched pets.
The inaugural Doggone Patriotic 5K
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Alfred was kind enough to loan Louie to me for the 5K walk on the fourth of July. Louie was excited so off we went for three laps around a park near where Alfred and Louie live. We stopped every lap for water and a break. Thanks to the organizers for a fun event and for their donation to Pets for Vets, Inc.
The Northern Delaware Chapter of Pets for Vets made front page news. The local newspaper "The News Journal" ran this story about our two matches on the front page of the September 19 edition of the paper.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions we had a very limited celebration at the Banning Pet Park where Louie and Alfred spend time socializing with their two and four legged friends. Louie is having trouble understanding that the dog area is locked at present but hopefully it will open soon. Louie and Alfred are very happy together and we enjoy getting together at the park to socialize safely.
How shelter dogs are helping U.S. veterans battle PTSD
May 4, 2016
Yahoo Global News anchor Katie Couric explores a new way of treating veterans with PTSD using shelter dogs.