Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, agent‑orange exhibit set for New Windsor in October

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be displayed in Carroll County Oct. 9–13 at the New Windsor Fire Department Carnival Grounds, organizers told the Carroll County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 25.

The exhibit is a 3/5 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington and “stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War,” Tammy Ray, community relations director for Babylon Vault, told the commissioners. “The wall will be coming to Carroll County at the New Windsor Fire Department Carnival Grounds in a few short weeks. It will be October 9 through the thirteenth.”

The traveling wall is intended to give local veterans — and people who cannot travel to Washington, D.C. — a chance to visit a memorial in familiar surroundings, Ray said. The program will include evening observances, educational displays and special programming for veterans and students. Ray said the event has hosted more than 150 Vietnam veterans over the past four years and that more than 3,000 Vietnam-era veterans live in Carroll County.

Organizers plan several feature events: a military-artifact tent with more than 500 vetted items; an Agent Orange awareness night on Friday, Oct. 10, when the wall will be lit orange and community members may bring photos for a “Faces of Agent Orange” display; a POW/MIA tent and luminary display for missing-service members; and presentations by veterans and former prisoners of war.

Ray identified opening and featured speakers planned for the weekend, saying Oliver North would deliver the opening remarks and that two former prisoners of war — Everett Alvarez and Colonel John Furr — would speak during the program on Oct. 12. She also said the exhibit will include a living-history component, military vehicles and a restored UH‑1 (Huey) helicopter landing barring bad weather. “We will also have Vietnam nurses that will be talking about the time in service along with their uniforms,” Ray said.

The event will include educational outreach: an essay and art contest for middle and high school students (theme: “The Weight of the Names”), school‑group field-trip opportunities, and a war-dog exhibit that highlights handlers and K‑9s who served. Ray said committee members and veterans reviewed artifacts and displays to avoid creating traumatic triggers for veterans. She said the traveling exhibit has been deliberately designed so that items with visible dirt or battle wear are vetted and, when necessary, cleaned at veterans’ request.

Several commissioners praised the effort and noted the county’s large population of Vietnam‑era veterans, saying the traveling wall and accompanying exhibits provide local opportunity for remembrance, education and recognition. Commissioner comments noted the county’s longtime involvement in Wreaths Across America ceremonies and called the Agent Orange programming an important addition.

Organizers asked for continued cooperation from county departments and civic groups; Ray said the exhibit and associated displays and educational programming are being kept in the county after the event and will be available for future public use. Admission details and a schedule of speakers and events are posted with organizers; Ray encouraged school groups and community members to attend.

The commissioners did not take formal action on the presentation. The invited organizers thanked the board and volunteers for county support and assistance in staging the multi‑day exhibit.