Rededication Ceremony At The Vietnam Wall

 

 

 On June 15 at Noon SL time, high above the Veterans Isle sim, there was a rededication event at the recently moved Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Suta Northman led a short ceremony. A number of others, mostly in Veteran groups, were also there. People took a little time to recongize the contributions of Veterans, and the sacrifices they made. 

There was a black box covering something for the first part of the ceremony. Then in the middle of it, the cover was removed, revealing a plaque and picture of the late Cy Cyberstar. Suta announced that the memorial would officially be renamed after him. Cy was once in charge of the group behind the Vietnam Memorial, passing away a few years ago. 

As 1PM approached, singer AustinMoore came by with his dancers. The girls included Netera Landar, who wrote for the Newser years ago, and Talia Sunsong a writer and artist the Newser interviewed. Last but not least was Sandy Hauster

The Memorial Wall can be visited in Veterans Isle. Suta explained the reason for the move was they could no longer to play for a sim to house it. 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/177/185/2485

 

Bixyl Shuftan

Vietnam Memorial Pictures

 

It's Memorial Day in the United States, and while many are taking the time to barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs, the purpose of the holiday is to honor soldiers and sailors who died in service to the country. Second Life has a number of war memorials. Among them a virtual replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This is a war that stands out in American history, over fifty-eight thousand dead, and in the end the forces that America had been fighting won the conflict. The Newser was at the memorial, taking a few pictures. 

See the pictures in Places.

 

 

Vietnam Wall Has Moved to Veterans Isle

 

 

Readers likely know of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which we wrote about in January 2022 in the Heavens Sun set sim. As it turns out, the memorial has moved to Veterans Isle.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Veterans%20Isle/120/131/2485

 

Black Hills National Cemetary Pictures Near Vietnam Wall

 

The Heavens Sunset sim is noted for it's virtual replica of the Vietnam Wall. But recently Suta Northman whom runs the area had something else to show me. It was a number of photographs on display, under a roof supported by pillars. At the opening were two plaques. One had the Gettysburg Address. The other had the following:

Angel Flights.

In the end .... They gave all.

Black Hills National Cemetary
Spearfish, South Dakota

*********

This is one of many sacred resting places of Angel Flights throughout the world and for our brothers and sisters over the years.

The pictures were of numerous photographs of the cemetery and the nearby Back Hills. Suta would explain some of his family were intered there. Among them was Major Kenneth C Owens, whom had enlisted as a private, got a commission, and worked his way up to Major. He served in Korea and Vietnam. He would also show photos of the nameplaques of two other relatives, Specialist Leroy Boucher and Sergeant Dean Boucher. Both were also veterans of Korea and Vietnam. 

The photos are not far from the Native American Veterans Memorial, which itself is close by the Vietnam Wall.

"All Gave Some, Some Gave All"

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Heavens%20Sunset/191/231/950

Bixyl Shuftan
 

The New Vietnam Veterans Memorial

 

In 2007, a team created a replica of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Second Life, highly detailed with all 58,000 names. Four years later, it was gone. Recently, over ten years later, the Newser came across a new Vietnam Wall. Getting in touch with the group behind it, Legacy Vets, they explained much about how it came to be, and of course the meaning behind it.
 
Read more in Places.
 

The Return of "The Wall," Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rebuilt

 

Longtime readers may remember the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Second Life, also known as "The Wall." Built in 2007, it stood for four years until it vanished in 2011. But after over ten years, it's back, or rather rebuilt. This wall is high over the Heavens Sunset sim.

This version of The Wall appears to have all 58,000 names. There are some differences as the Three Soldiers Memorial statue isn't there. Still the return of "The Wall," is good news.
 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Heavens%20Sunset/65/106/953

 Bixyl Shuftan

 

SL Video: SL Aviation Magazine - Issue 1

(Click Here if the video fails to load)

Luke Flywalker hosts "SL Aviation," in which he attends a flight by the French Air Force Acrobatic team, and goes to the set of the "War in Vietnam" film.

SL Video: The War In Vietnam Part 1 The Ground War

(Click Here if the video fails to load)

Vickster Khun announced recently in the WW2 Combat RP group, "You may recall last month WWII Players were asked to participate in an SL movie production about Vietnam. The first segment has just been released on youtube! Check it out!" Vickster herself played the roles of a soldier and an F105 "Thunderchief" pilot. Produced and directed by Luke Flywalker.

Vietnam Wall Builder Would Help Bring Back Momument if Sponsor Comes Forward

In November, The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial was found to have vanished. Contacting the head of Meme Science, Evian Argus, which built "The Wall" sim where it was, he told me someone had been sponsoring hit, but must have decided to suddenly up and stop paying the tier. He would try to help bring it back if there was someone else offering to sponsor the Memorial.

So who can help bring back this replica of the memorial to the 58,000 soldiers who gave their lives in the Vietnam War?

What Happened to "The Wall?"

"The Wall" is missing from the map, nor does landmarks and SURLs to it work. It's website at http://www.thewallsl.com/ is also gone, replaced by something in Japanese kanji.

A faithful reproduction of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, "The Wall" in Second Life was constructed by the Meme Science group (memescience.com doesn't work either) with Corwin Chevalier and Evian Argus designing the build, with Bleys Chevalier leading the building effort. It was opened to all residents on Veterans day 2007.

A moving tribute, The Wall listed all 58,000 names of US Veterans whom gave their lives in the Vietnam War, including a few that didn't quite make the list to the real-life one in time for it's construction. Each of the names could be looked up and found, allowing visitors to find them. Also at the wall was a virtual Three Servicemen Statue, by artist Melini Fairymeadow.


"The Wall" was one of the first places I wrote about in Second Life, and to me one of the best examples as to what one could create on the Grid. I last visited it in May, and there was no sign then there was a problem. It is unclear when the decision to take the place down was made, and SL Newser heard of no call for help to raise donations for upkeep.

It's vanishing would truly be a loss for the Grid.

Bixyl Shuftan