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Included in the Saturday, July 23 print edition of The Andalusia Star-News is a magazine developed by the Covington Veterans Foundation to coincide with next week’s arrival of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall.

The magazine features stories of the 19 men whose hometowns were in Covington County at the time of their enlistment, as well as the stories of two others who had spent most of their young lives here.

The Covington Veterans Foundation is hosting the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in partnership with the City of Andalusia, and with the support of numerous local sponsors. Work on this project has been under way for months.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will arrive on Wed., July 27, and will be escorted into town at 10:30 a.m. by state and local law enforcement officials, as well as a number of veterans. The arrival will be staged from the Covington County Track and Field Facility on Hwy. 55 South. That afternoon, The Wall will be erected behind the Covington Veterans Memorial.

On Thursday, the Friends of Army Aviation will have an UH-1H “Huey” helicopter on display between Andalusia City Hall and Springdale on Thursday, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The group will offer rides from Packer Field from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

At 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, an opening ceremony is planned for the Covington Veterans Memorial. That evening, a special edition of the Andalusia Chamber’s July Jamz is planned on the lawn of Springdale. The Three Notch Ramblers will open the evening at 6 p.m. with songs from the Vietnam Era, and they will be followed by Lee Greenwood, whose appearance is sponsored by CCB Community Bank. Admission is free.

There will be reserved seating for Vietnam-Era Gold Star families at the opening ceremonies. Gold Star families who have not received a letter from CVF can reach out to Robert Evers at 334.343.6890 for additional information.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will remain open until closing ceremonies at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31.

Other special events include a Missing Man Ceremony inside the auditorium of City Hall at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 30. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 607 in Montgomery will lead the ceremony. Opp native Jessie Donaldson is president of that group.

At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, the Covington Veterans Foundation will host Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Jimmie W. Spencer, who will give a presentation about the war. That also will be in the City Hall Auditorium.

The Foundation and the City are required to provide round-the-clock security, as well as volunteers in the locator tent around the clock. Anyone wishing to volunteer who is not already signed up can call Michele Gerlach at 334.488.5317 or 334.428.1143.