OCEANSIDE: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall replica on display through Sunday

Many of the bikers were veterans, with bright patches and pins broadcasting their service or American flags on their jackets and vests.

The memorial they brought to town is a 370-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The wall will be on display at the senior center from Thursday through Sunday and is sure to attract a crowd, said Fred Zariczny, a Vietnam-era veteran and pastor of Rushing Wind Ministries.

Zariczny said his congregation sponsored the traveling wall, owned by American Veterans Travelling Tribute, because they wanted to honor the area's many servicemen and women. He invited people from throughout the region to visit the exhibit.

He said the memorial gives servicemen and women, their families and friends a place to honor those who have been killed in combat.

"We believe there's a lot of people that need to be recognized, honored and thanked for their service to our country," he said. "People have lost family members in these wars, and we want to tell them we love them and God loves them."

The wall, made from metal, is about 80 percent of the size of the granite monument in the nation's capital. It is one of several walls that travel throughout the United States to pay homage to soldiers killed in that conflict. The wall contains the names of more than 58,000 servicemen and women who were killed overseas during the Vietnam War.

The replica wall will be open for free viewing from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

A ceremony with guest speakers and music will be held at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Rushing Winds Ministry will hold a church service at the wall at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The exhibit is at the El Corazon Senior Center, 3302 Senior Center Drive off Rancho del Oro Drive near Oceanside Boulevard.

The four-day installation will also feature memorials for World Wars I and II, the Korean War and Sept. 11, and nine presentation boards featuring gold dog tags engraved with the names of soldiers who were killed during any war since the Vietnam War.

Shirley Doty, who with her husband, Steve, is a part owner of Americans Veterans Travelling Tribute, said the company travels wherever they are invited to display the wall. Their version of the traveling wall ---- which is different from the wall that came to Oceanside in 2004 and was on display in San Diego last week ---- will visit 35 cities in 2010.

"The wall is to honor, remember and respect all who served," Doty said Wednesday. "It's for the people that can't go to D.C."

John Stryker Meyer, coordinator of the veterans program at Interfaith Community Services and a Vietnam War veteran, said he plans to visit the wall this weekend. He said the replica wall that visited Oceanside six years ago allowed many veterans to open up about their experiences in Vietnam.

"The wall has a profound healing effect on a lot of people," he said. "It's a poignant reminder of the price our country paid for that conflict. (Visiting) it is a major event for at least Vietnam vets, their families, and for those who knew people that died there or were MIAs."

The event is sponsored by Rushing Winds Ministries, Recon Mountaineer, Bikers for Christ International, Quick Throttle Magazine, Wheels of Grace Magazine and Marriott Residence Inn.

Visit www.rushingwindministries.org.

Call staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067.