Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall arrives today. Caravan escorts traveling wall from Potosi to Desloge VFW Hall. By C.CLINE Daily Journal Staff Writer Wednesday, September 30, 2009 DESLOGE — The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will be arriving in Desloge today [Sept. 30, 2009] via caravan. It’s expected to be in Desloge by 1:30 p.m., according to organizers. “It’s going to come into Potosi at about 1 p.m.,” said Ann Anderson, of the Desloge VFW Auxiliary. “It will come into Desloge on Highway 8 to Route P.” She said the caravan will end at the Desloge VFW. A reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Desloge VFW. Anderson said it is open to the public. “This event is a community event,” she said. “We want to get everyone involved.” The exhibit tent will open at the Desloge City Park at noon on Thursday. It will remain open 24 hours a day until the event ends on Sunday and is free of charge. The opening ceremony will be at 1 p.m. at the park. The North County Marching Band and choir will perform. Farmington ROTC will post and retrieve the colors. Gold Star Mothers, POW, MIA and American War Mothers will lay a wreath. Several speakers and dignitaries will also be present. An evening ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. and the Boy Scouts will post and retrieve the colors. On Friday, the opening ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. because of the North County Homecoming. The posting and retrieving of colors will be done by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard. The invocation will be by the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department Chaplain, Darryl Rhodes. The keynote speaker will be Jerry Wells and his daughter Jessica from Camp Hope. On Saturday, the opening ceremony will be at 1 p.m. Leadington VFW Post 5741 will post and retrieve the colors. The keynote speaker will be Tom Mundell, Department of Missouri POW/MIA Chairman. Shelley Odle will sing the National Anthem. The prayer will be offered by Pastor David Oddi. There will be a candlelight vigil. Michael Deason and his daughter Ashley will be reading the names of the local veterans who are on the memorial. A balloon release will then be held. Bruce Scott will play the bagpipes and North County Band will play “Taps.” On Sunday there will be a 10 a.m. church service in Desloge City Park. At 1 p.m. there will a motorcycle ride to The Wall headed by the Patriot Guard. All motorcycle enthusiasts who would like to participate are asked to meet at USA Drug at noon. The closing ceremony will take place 2 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Captain Seth Nelson. Anderson said she is still looking for a color guard for one of the ceremonies. She is also looking for anyone who would like to sing or play music during one of the ceremonies. For more information call 573-330-1028. “I think the main thing is to get the schedule of events out the public,” Anderson said. “As you can see we have a lot planned this weekend. We want the entire area to come out and show their support for this.”