Traveling Vietnam War, Cost of Freedom tributes to arrive in Wilkeson
Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, May 27, 2026
The American Veteran’s Traveling Tribute will be making a stop in Wilkeson shortly after Memorial Day.
From June 11 to 14, visitors to the Wilkeson Eagles (534 Church Street) will be able to see a Vietnam Traveling Wall, a Global War on Terror Wall, and a Cost of Freedom Tribute display.
The Vietnam Traveling Wall consists of 85 panels listing the names of 58,000-plus men and women who served in the war.
There are also panels listing casualty statistics, those who were prisoners of war or missing in action, and victims of Agent Orange.
A.E. Myers, Chairman of the Trustees with the Wilkeson Eagles, said the wall means a lot to him, and a Purple Heart veteran of the Vietnam War, and the rest of the organization.
“We’re all a pretty patriotic bunch around here,” he said.
Myers served first in 1965 and ‘66, but he went back in ‘68 and ‘69.
“At that time… Khe Sanh was going on,” he said, mentioning a battle where the North Vietnamese People’s Army surrounded a Marine base, resulting in the deaths of 274 troops and wounded 2,500 others. “It was all over the news, and… I just wanted to go back.”
Was it a brave decision return?
“It was brave since I made it,” he added, laughing.
He easily could not have, as he was wounded in a booby-trapped ambush. He spent 30 days on the USS Sanctuary recovering before going back out.
Myers recalled visiting a different traveling Vietnam Memorial that came to Enumclaw in 2021 and the unexpected emotions he experienced.
“It’s something you don’t think about until you’re actually right in front of it, actually see the names, actually realize how many young men passed away defending their country,” Myers continued. “It’s pretty emotional.”
Other displays include the Global War on Terrorism Tribute, which honors those who were killed in the 9/11 attacks and those on Flights 11, 77, 93, and 175.
Finally, the Cost of Freedom Tribute spans nearly a century of wars and includes tributes to those killed in World War I and II, Korea, the Cold War, the El Salvador War, the Grenada Invasion, the USS Stark attack, Desert Storm, Khobar Towers, the Fort Hood attack, and more.
“All these young people give their lives, regardless of which war it was is,” Myers said. “They’re all important.”
Visiting the wall is free.
The display will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 11, then 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday, the display will be open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about Americas Freedom Tribute and the traveling memorials, go to americasfreedomtribute.org.
