Photo by Jerry Sowden - Justin Brink of Whalen Contracting of Franklin smoothes the edges around a seam in the new cement pad in front of the Vietnam Veterans Honor Roll in Franklin.

The brick Vietnam Veterans Honor Roll in Franklin's South Park is getting a facelift in preparation for the Moving Wall exhibit set for Aug. 28-31 in Franklin.

"We needed to spruce it up a bit so it would look good when the memorial wall comes," said Bob Bowen, a Vietnam veteran from Franklin.

The three-section brick honor roll was dedicated on Veterans Day 1985 in honor of all Venango County Vietnam veterans. The volunteer project was directed by the former Oil City Jaycees chapter.

Listed on brass plates on the monument are some 900 names of local Vietnam veterans.

The county monument is about to get a companion piece, at least for a few days.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Franklin is coordinating the visit of a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. to Franklin next month.

The 370-foot-long, four/fifths scale wall is part of a national program launched in 1999 and known as the Traveling Wall Foundation and American Veterans Trading Tribute. The sponsoring organization is comprised of a group of veterans dedicated to ensuring that men and women who served and are serving their country are "honored, respected and remembered."

The exhibit is known simply as "The Cost of Freedom" and will be set up in Franklin Park.

Exhibit is broad

While focused on honoring all veterans, most specifically the 58,245 Americans who died in the Vietnam War and whose names are etched on the Washington, D.C., memorial, the traveling exhibit is more expansive.

Memorial panels have been added to pay tribute to 9-1-1 victims and all military personal who have perished in action since Vietnam. That includes men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Franklin event will include honoring those individuals who have ties to this area.

The Traveling Wall exhibit also will honor the service and sacrifice of police, fire and emergency personnel from the region who were killed in the line of duty.

Help needed

Time and money are being sought to help with the expansive exhibit.

Volunteers, especially Vietnam veterans, are being asked to help set up and take down the exhibit, serve as sentries at the exhibit site and more. Volunteers may contact Joan Nintz at 437-1259.

The project will cost about $10,000 and is being paid through contributions from a variety of sources, including the Franklin VFW, area communities, businesses and individuals.

Donations specifically marked for the Vietnam Wall may be sent to the VFW Post 1835, 411 Ninth St., Franklin, 16323.

More information is available by contacting Ray Burke, a Vietnam veterans and Franklin VFW Post commander, at the post.