A replica of the famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial will make a stop in Hollister for the Independence Day motorcycle rally.
One of the touring Vietnam walls will be placed at Dunne Park in the soccer field area from July 3 through July 6. It makes the second time a replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall—with names of those killed in the war—has been here for the rally, with the last visit in 2004.
“We had it before. It was such a big draw,” said Hollister Councilman Ray Friend, a veteran himself. “I went to it last year over in Madera. They had it in the park there. It’s just amazing, the draw you get over there. It’s a pretty emotional thing.”
Friend made the announcement at this week’s council meeting and added that it’s another activity for visitors coming to the rally.
The local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars branches are hosting the wall coming from a company based in Minnesota. American Legion Commander Joe Love said organizers have been working to bring the wall here since last July. The consideration started with a conversation between Love and Police Chief David Westrick last year.
“It’s something we’ve been working hard on getting,” Love said.
