Traveling Tribute Wall returns: Smaller display will grace Keeney Center lawn

by Mark Jahne

Editor

The American Traveling Tribute that was displayed for four days in Cove Park this past September drew crowds of people interested in learning more about American military personnel who died in wartime service to this country and in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

Now called the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, or the Freedom Tribute, a smaller display will be in town from July 23-26 on the lawn between the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center and Hurlbut-Dunham House. There will not be a large wall but there will be multiple A-frame displays and 24-hour access.

The displays are double sided and 120 feet long. The Col. John Chester Fife & Drum Corps is scheduled to perform.

Leading the effort is Dorena Federici, a passionate advocate for veterans and executive vice president of the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce. She has a weekly podcast called “Let’s Talk about Veterans.”

She has formed a committee and raised money for this exhibit. Panels will include World War I and other major wars since then, the global war on terror, Iraq, Afghanistan. There will also be a panel honoring the first responders from 9/11/2001.

“We are going to be focusing a lot on the women,” Federici said.

Eight women are listed on these panels. Three died in military service during the Vietnam War. It also honors “Donut Dollies” who lost their lives in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Donut Dollies were American Red Cross volunteers who served in combat zones and traveled to the front lines on occasion to boost morale with games, food, conversation and a touch of home.

Not to be left out are the women who worked in manufacturing while the men served in the armed forces. Look for the panel honoring Rosie the Riveter.

UNICO, an Italian American service organization, is a significant financial backer of this display. Funds were also donated by local garden clubs and derived from T-shirt sales. There is also money left over from last year’s display. The cost of this year’s tribute is $7,500.

Dignitaries are expected to attend on opening day including Commissioner Ronald Welch of the state Department of Veterans Affairs. Boy Scouts and other volunteers will assist visitors in finding specific names on the panels, as they did this past year. WL