Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall heading to Fayette
Residents will have an opportunity to pay their respects to American service members when the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall returns to the area for the first time since 2024 this week.
The wall will be displayed at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Dunbar from July 15 to 20 alongside a restored Vietnam-era Huey UH-1H helicopter after a procession north from West Virginia.
RS Aviation President Ronald Corrado partners with the Florida-based nonprofit Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard (VVB) to bring the 3/5th-scale replica of the permanent Vietnam Memorial installation in Washington, D.C. to western Pennsylvania at regular intervals.
Corrado personally restored the helicopter that will accompany the wall as it travels from Morgantown, West Virginia, to Dunbar on July 15 alongside a motorcade of ground vehicles.
According to Corrado, the wall convoy will depart from the BFS Fuel on Fortress Boulevard around 11 a.m., heading north along the Mon-Fayette Expressway to Route 119 to arrive in Dunbar later that afternoon.
The helicopter, which will be flown by CW5 Marian Clemans and CW3 Ronald Corrado, plus Crew Chiefs SGT Robert Kunkle and SPC John Scott, will join the convoy to provide air support around 11 a.m. from its base at the Washington County Airport.
Corrado restored the helicopter alongside his wife, Sue, following a 21-year career in the U.S. Army as a maintenance test pilot and training officer.
Now, Corrado displays the helicopter at a number of regional events to honor veterans, including the annual Canonsburg Fourth of July Parade.
The traveling memorial wall is displayed around the country, where it “stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their home town who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington,” according to the VVB website.