This Week In Local History: Travelling Vietnam Memorial replica visited the Abingtons

1967 — A group of candidates for Red Cross Life Saving certificates met at Hammonds Pool, Layton Road, Chinchilla. The 20-hour course was conducted by Dawn Caswell, with the help of Hammond lifeguards Ken Heron and Roxann Stevens.

1977 — The Abington Community Library’s auction was the big news of the week, with the Journal devoting a full page of photos to the event.

1987 — That week’s top story was all about a wall.

“Vietnam veterans from several states were in the Abington area last week to take part in the many events – including a large military parade – scheduled around the presence of the ‘Moving Wall,’ a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.,” read the caption under one photograph from the event. “However, the wall attracted many more people than Vietnam vets, and it ‘moved’ in a deeply emotional way as well as a physical one. Many visitors sought rubbings of names of lost family members and friends – many others left wreaths and other mementos near the names of loved ones, prompting more than a few onlookers to tears.”

The event was sponsored by the Clarks Summit Parker-Wescott Post 40 of the Vietnam Veterans.

At Hammonds Pool for a lifeguard course in August, 1967 are, from left, first row, Dave Noyes. Second row, lifeguard Ken Heron, Helen O’Connell, Mary Ann Viola, Jim Noyes, Doug Holmes and Jeff Hermann. Third row, instructor Dawn Caswell, Felix Rocca, Scott Grill, Rick Gage, Dave Vogelbacker, Dave Lavelle and Rick Mercer.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_ABJ-LH-0816-1967.jpg.optimal.jpgAt Hammonds Pool for a lifeguard course in August, 1967 are, from left, first row, Dave Noyes. Second row, lifeguard Ken Heron, Helen O’Connell, Mary Ann Viola, Jim Noyes, Doug Holmes and Jeff Hermann. Third row, instructor Dawn Caswell, Felix Rocca, Scott Grill, Rick Gage, Dave Vogelbacker, Dave Lavelle and Rick Mercer. Abington Journal file photos

Dawn Heydon, of Falls, looked through the many children’s books for sale at the Abington Community Library’s auction in 1977.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_ABJ-LH-0816-1977.jpg.optimal.jpgDawn Heydon, of Falls, looked through the many children’s books for sale at the Abington Community Library’s auction in 1977. Abington Journal file photos

An unidentified woman visited the ‘Moving Wall,’ a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., during its 1987 stop in the Abingtons.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_ABJ-LH-0816-1987.jpg.optimal.jpgAn unidentified woman visited the ‘Moving Wall,’ a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., during its 1987 stop in the Abingtons. Abington Journal file photos