-- — In commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary, the Ripley County Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Tribute committees are thanking those who have served their country from World War II until now.
A Vietnam and Vietnam Era Veterans Tribute is planned for Saturday, July 21, at 1 p.m. It will feature Vietnam veteran Sammy L. Davis, U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as keynote speaker, reports publicity director Mary Ann Wise-Castner, Versailles.
The tribute will be held at the South Ripley High School gym, 1589 S. Benham Road, Versailles. Parking will be at the rear of the school and entry will be by Door 10.
Over a four-day period, from Thursday, July 19, at noon, until Sunday, July 22, at 3 p.m., persons may visit the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, which explores the cost of freedom, at the Southeastern Career Center. It features an 80 percent replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Panels also pay tribute to all veterans, Sept. 11 victims, firefighters and police.
The display will be escorted to Versailles by the Ripley County sheriff, Indiana State Police, Ripley County’s police and fire departments, Southeast Indiana Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders, War on Terrorism families and southeast Indiana citizens Wednesday, July 18. Staging for the escort will be in the Batesville Shopping Village parking lot, just west of Batesville Wing Co., from 3-4:30 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. briefing and prayer, reports Indiana Patriot Guard Southeast Region senior ride captain Tim Kieffer.
The procession will depart at 5 p.m. via East Pearl Street to State Road 46. He says, “We will travel through the communities of Batesville, Morris, Penntown, Sunman, Milan, Delaware and Osgood before arriving at the Southeast Career Center, 901 W. U.S. 50, Versailles, around 6:30. I apologize that we are not able to travel through every Ripley County community. We are limited on distance and time, which unfortunately doesn't allow us to directly involve everyone.”
Community members are encouraged to greet the escort along the roads as it travels through each town.
The route and approximate times:
“We will travel east on SR 46 through Morris 5:05-5:10 arriving in Penntown by 5:15- 5:20.
From Penntown we will travel south on SR 101, arriving in Sunman by 5:25-5:30. Continuing south on SR 101, we will arrive in Milan by 5:45-5:50.
Departing from Milan, we will travel west on SR 350, arriving in Delaware at 6- 6:05. Continuing west on SR 350, we will arrive in Osgood at 6:15 -6:20.
We will travel south on SR 421, arriving in Versailles at 6:30-6:35.”
A reception for all participants will be held at the American Legion Post 173 immediately following the welcome ceremony.
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