Conroe Courier - News
Saying goodbye: Vietnam Wall leaves Willis
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| The Conroe Symphony Brass Ensemble performed a trio of patriotic songs for the audience during Sunday’s closing ceremonies for the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Willis. |
Conroe Courier
By Elliott Cochran
WILLIS – Hundreds of attendees and officials sent the Vietnam Memorial Wall off in style with a closing ceremony Sunday afternoon at Roark Elementary school in Willis.
The wall will now travel to its final stop of the year, Las Vegas.
As time closed on the wall’s visit to the north Montgomery County city, officials were impressed by the turnout which they estimate exceeded 12,000 people.
“The experience has been absolutely incredible,” Director Jeff Cashner said. “There are a lot of veterans who had closure; a lot of tears were shed and memories shared.
“I think for the small community in Willis, this event made the city large.”
The closing ceremony was conducted by Brian Zemlicka, superintendent of Willis Independent School District.
The Conroe Symphony Brass Ensemble performed a trio of patriotic songs for the audience, and Willis resident Sonny Flippo performed a rendition of “God Bless the USA” that sent many members of the audience into tears.
Josey Billnoske, a longtime Willis resident and member of the city council, visited the memorial all three days it was open to the public, familiarizing herself with the engraving, “Johnnie C. Lawson Jr.,” her son and only Willis resident who was killed in the Vietnam War.
“I don’t even know how to explain what I’m feeling,” Billnoske said. “I wouldn’t have dreamed it (the memorial) would ever come to Willis, but it did and it’s just wonderful.
“It’s definitely an honor to me.”
Billnoske released an individual dove, to honor her son, apart from the assemblage of doves released following a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” performed on the bagpipes by Conroe resident Dave Anderson.
Among the thousands of participants in attendance for the memorial’s stay were local and state officials, including U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Montgomery County Judge Alan B. Sadler were in attendance.
Officials who could not attend, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and state Sens. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, sent statements, which were read aloud to attendees.
To close the ceremony, the Conroe Boy Scouts of America, Troop 472, held a flag retirement ceremony.
The memorial, which took approximately eight hours to assemble, was disassembled at 3 p.m. and loaded into the 18-wheeler that drives the wall across the country from city to city.
Cash said the experience was memorable and emotional for all involved, and he hopes the wall will return to Willis in the near future.
“We want to bring the wall back in another four years,” he said, “It’s started a reaction in Montgomery County.
“People said ‘Why Willis?’ But the community showed them why.”
For more information about the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience, visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
The wall will now travel to its final stop of the year, Las Vegas.
As time closed on the wall’s visit to the north Montgomery County city, officials were impressed by the turnout which they estimate exceeded 12,000 people.
“The experience has been absolutely incredible,” Director Jeff Cashner said. “There are a lot of veterans who had closure; a lot of tears were shed and memories shared.
“I think for the small community in Willis, this event made the city large.”
The closing ceremony was conducted by Brian Zemlicka, superintendent of Willis Independent School District.
The Conroe Symphony Brass Ensemble performed a trio of patriotic songs for the audience, and Willis resident Sonny Flippo performed a rendition of “God Bless the USA” that sent many members of the audience into tears.
Josey Billnoske, a longtime Willis resident and member of the city council, visited the memorial all three days it was open to the public, familiarizing herself with the engraving, “Johnnie C. Lawson Jr.,” her son and only Willis resident who was killed in the Vietnam War.
“I don’t even know how to explain what I’m feeling,” Billnoske said. “I wouldn’t have dreamed it (the memorial) would ever come to Willis, but it did and it’s just wonderful.
“It’s definitely an honor to me.”
Billnoske released an individual dove, to honor her son, apart from the assemblage of doves released following a rendition of “Amazing Grace,” performed on the bagpipes by Conroe resident Dave Anderson.
Among the thousands of participants in attendance for the memorial’s stay were local and state officials, including U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, State Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Montgomery County Judge Alan B. Sadler were in attendance.
Officials who could not attend, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and state Sens. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, sent statements, which were read aloud to attendees.
To close the ceremony, the Conroe Boy Scouts of America, Troop 472, held a flag retirement ceremony.
The memorial, which took approximately eight hours to assemble, was disassembled at 3 p.m. and loaded into the 18-wheeler that drives the wall across the country from city to city.
Cash said the experience was memorable and emotional for all involved, and he hopes the wall will return to Willis in the near future.
“We want to bring the wall back in another four years,” he said, “It’s started a reaction in Montgomery County.
“People said ‘Why Willis?’ But the community showed them why.”
For more information about the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience, visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
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