TIFTON — The names of nine Tift County men who died in battle are among the 1,400 listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The Georgia history teacher who is organizing the Oct. 22-27 visit here of “The Moving Wall” is asking that the community tell her anything about those men and veterans of other wars so she can write it into history.
Susan Tucker teaches seventh and eighth-grade history at Eighth Street Middle School. She is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, married a veteran and has a son who is a veteran.
At the Tuesday meeting of the Tifton Lions Club at the Golden Corral, Tucker asked members if they knew how Lt. Harold B. “Pinky” Durham Jr., a Vietnam veteran and only recipient of the Medal of Honor, got his nickname. No one did.
“I heard that when he was born, the hospital had run out of blue blankets and they wrapped him in a pink one,” Tucker said.
In addition to Durham, the names of Franklin Thomas Collins, Robert Lee Dykes Jr., Hulus Edgar Key Jr. and Harold Ray Tyson, all of Tifton; Delma Ernest Dickens of Omega and George Thomas Spillers and Joseph Ray Wynn Jr., both of Chula, appear on the wall. Tucker is planning an archival booth that will be available near “The Moving Wall” for Vietnam veterans to have their pictures taken as they appeared in boot camp. Also, she’s encouraging them to either have their story videotaped at the booth or providing a typed version to organizers and placing the information in a book that she will donate to the Tifton-Tift County Genealogical Society. Also, if anyone wants to loan war memorabilia, it will be displayed in an exhibit at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage.
Tucker, a native of Tifton, began organizing a fundraising campaign in February to bring the wall to Tifton. She said six sources donated the $4,000 needed to pay the Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. organization in two weeks. She hopes others in the community will volunteer and donate funds to advertise the event through local media, to print flyers to distribute, to provide food for volunteers and decorations for the wall.
Tucker organized the ESMS History Club and those students and others will join her to take responsibility for the display while it is here. The moving wall will be erected on the campus at ESMS in the area of the track. People will have access to the wall around the clock beginning the morning of Oct. 23 through the afternoon of Oct. 27.
“The Moving Wall” is a half-size replica of the Washington, D.C., Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than 20 years. Only 40 communities each year have the privilege of hosting the wall.
“This year, the only place it’s coming in Georgia is to Tifton,” Tucker said.
Tucker told Lions Club members that the memorial helps bring healing to veterans and their friends and families and their visits are sometimes very emotional.
“I feel it’s an extremely important event because the Vietnam War affected everybody,” Tucker said. “My wish is for the five days the wall is at Eighth Street Middle School, (that it will be) the No. 1 place people can go and find peace.”
“The Moving Wall” is made of Plexiglass and aluminum and is 250 feet long and four feet tall at each end and six feet tall in the center. The names of the 58,425 men and women who died in Vietnam is silk-screened on the black panels. Many of the people who visit the wall leave mementos, some of which are artifacts of the war. All of the items left at the Moving Wall are collected the last day of the display, marked, boxed and shipped to the Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd., office in White Pine, Mich. The artifacts are stored there until they are displayed in glass cases below the flag of each state the memorial has visited.
Anyone interested in volunteering their time or donating items may call Tucker at 229-848-6113 or e-mail her at susantucker@mchsi.com. Anyone interested in contributing to the costs associated with the exhibit may send their checks to: Eighth Street Middle School, c/o Susan Tucker, 700 W. Eighth St., Tifton, GA 31794.
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
Local News
Related Photos
Wall visit organizers looking for information, volunteers, donations
- Local News
-
-
Chet Powell starts new wildlife group
Many South Georgians enjoy the beauty of bountiful wildlife. But chances are, few realize that there are those special people out there who work diligently and spend their own money rescuing and rehabbing injured and orphaned animals.
And perhaps not many know about the Georgia Wildlife Rescue Association that is newly formed with Colquitt Countian Chet Powell at its helm. -
BOE introduces behavioral specialists
Programs addressing student behavioral issues were among items discussed at a recent Tift County Board of Education work session.
At Tuesday’s night meeting, Joy West, special education director, introduced three behavioral specialists who have been placed in four local schools to address behavior: Debra Woods at Charles Spencer Elementary, Leigh Ann Haworth at G.O. Bailey Primary and at Len Lastinger Primary, and Jennifer Glenn at Matt Wilson Elementary School.
West said that grades kindergarten through fifth were looked at because a panel saw a great need to address discipline at an early age. -
Community helps with ‘Operation Valentine’
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals, with the help of some local churches, recently worked on a project, “Operation Valentine,” sending more than 100 personal valentines to military personnel. Local young students created the valentines, which were sent along with some goodies.
Suzanne Myers with Bowen-Donaldson said the funeral home is the Tift County Veterans and Family Memorial Care Provider. - Lee Grace Dougherty to appear in court today
-
Wood turning event Saturday at museum
-
Ga. House rejects charter schools amendment
House lawmakers rejected Wednesday a proposed amendment to the state constitution giving the General Assembly the power to create new charter schools.
- I-75 traffic grinds to halt due to deadly wreck in N. Ga.
-
Statewide tornado drill today
According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes are the No. 1 severe weather-related killer in Georgia. With tornado season fast approaching, Gov. Nathan Deal, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security and NWS are urging all residents to prepare now for these violent storms. To help Georgians prepare for these dangerous storms, NWS will issue a statewide tornado drill today, and GEMA asks that all schools, households and businesses participate in the drill. GEMA also encourages residents to get ready for tornadoes by purchasing and programming a NOAA Weather Radio.
-
Truck drives off I-75
- City names new attorney
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
