November 2009

American Veteran's Traveling Tribute - Activities and Times

By Sean McGowan, November 6th 2009

(Colusa, CA) The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) will be on display at the Colusa Indian Community Center near the Colusa Casino Resort in Colusa, California from November 10th though November 16, 2009 in honor of Veteran’s week. The exhibit will kick off a week-long of activities to visitors beginning on Wednesday, November 11th with the opening ceremony on November 12 at 2:00pm.  The Opening Ceremony includes an invocation, music, veterans speaking plus a 21 gun salute, local and state dignitaries. The exhibit will be on display 24 hours a day during its stay in Colusa. 

 “We’re honored to be able to display the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Wall at Colusa Indian Community Center,” said Don Kennedy Director of Marketing. “The Memorial on property will remind our guests of those who have served their country with great distinction.”  Also planned is a traditional USO show on November 12 featuring The Keller Coker Orchestra, Bill Montague, Bill Bachmann, Jakki Ford, a Bob Hope impersonator as MC and a special tribute to the Andrew Sisters. “The show will honor all of those who have served in the Armed Forces, taking you through the different generations of music from WW II to current”, said Colusa Casino Resort Publicity Manager Phil Robertson. Show times are 4pm and 7pm with free admission. A trip to the Washington DC Memorial will be given away at each show.
 
The Wall will make its way from the State Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday, November 10th escorted by several California motorcycle clubs. It will continue on from Sacramento onto Interstate 5, to Williams where more bike riders will join in escort to Highway 20 towards Colusa to Highway 45 to Colusa Indian Community Center. “Locals are encouraged to line Highway 20 from Williams to Colusa and wave flags and cheer as the tribute goes by at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, November 10th”, said Katelyn Davies, Marketing Coordinator for Colusa Casino Resort. Flags will be available at Memorial Park in Colusa and at Redinger Park in Williams. Those interested in helping may call Davies at 530-458-8844 ext. 6963 or KDavies@colusacasino.com.
 
Several other city events are being planned by local volunteers that have been meeting regularly for several months. There will be pancake breakfast in Arbuckle on November 14th from 5:30am-9:30am at Veterans Memorial Park with opening ceremony at 10am that will include a dedication of a plaque to honor PFC Justin A. Casillas who was killed in action in Afghanistan.  In Williams, the Sacramento Valley Museum will extend their hours and have music, food and children activities. And in Colusa a Dutch Oven Cook-off will be held on November 14 at 12:00pm, dessert contest at 3:00pm with bands and displays in the City Park and John Wayne movies playing at the Colusa Theater. Colusa Casino Resort is providing free buffets to all veterans November 11-16 and free military service caps while supplies last. 
 
 “The American Veterans Traveling Tribute travels the USA each year participating in sponsored events with a mission to, Honor, Respect, and Remember those who served, and thus those who are serving. The wall is taken from city to city as a tribute to those who died and to help families who can't get to Washington D.C. to reflect on the sacrifice of their loved ones,” according to a press release issued by the Traveling Wall project.
 
The Wall is an 80% size replica visual presentation standing over eight feet tall at its apex and over 370 feet long. The tribute is a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. which shows the names of 58,621 men and women lost in that conflict. Also on display, a tribute made up of dog tags for all those lost in conflicts after Vietnam. The Cost of Freedom displays are nine large memorials represented in gold dog tags under glass to remember and honor all who died in service since Vietnam, including the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.
 
Other memorials and exhibits included in the AVTT event are:
The Cost of Freedom Memorial: A series of stand-up exhibits created in gold dog tags to record the names of those who gave their lives for our freedom since Vietnam and including present day Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
911 Memorials: A stand-up exhibit with lighted twin towers. Each name is recorded according to their location at the time of the tragedy.
Walk of Heroes: A series of stand-ups that pay tribute and provide education regarding the country's history, as well as conflicts America has been involved in to ensure freedom.
Vietnam Remembered: A nationally acclaimed art display of original paintings and more for viewing, education and reflection.
Tribute Panel: Anyone can purchase a silver custom inscribed dog tag to place on the panel, proving a tribute and personal message to a loved one, past or present.
World War II: A display of photographs and information paying specific tribute to WWII veterans.

The AVTT is a veteran-owned project and is not government sponsored or affiliated. It is funded through sponsorships, donations and merchandise sales at events. AVTT is part of The Traveling Wall Foundation an IRS designated charitable nonprofit organization for more information visit www.avtt.org  or more information on the AVTT coming to Colusa Indian Community Center visit www.colusacasino.com