The Butler County American Legion Riders are looking for the stories behind the names on the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Memorial Wall the group is bringing to the VA Butler Healthcare grounds.

The traveling wall is 360 feet long and made up of 144 wall panels ranging in height from eight feet to eight inches. It will be at the VA grounds from Aug. 24 to Aug. 27.

Dennis Christie of Parker and Helen Mildren of Chicora, members of the riders group, said the wall is about 80 percent of the size of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.

The Legion Riders are looking for information on Vietnam-era military members killed in action.

The riders want to talk to friends and family who lost a loved one in the Vietnam War. They believe this additional information will be helpful in telling the KIA’s story when the wall arrives.

The riders are doing this to remember and honor the military that served in the Vietnam War, trying to preserve memories and stories that are in danger of being lost.

“We are losing Vietnam veterans left and right, and many have never seen the memorial,” said Christie.

“The main thing right now is to get the stories and remembrances behind the names on the wall. A lot of the parents are gone, but surely there are people out there — cousins, classmates — that might have some insight into the KIAs.”

If you have information on a Vietnam KIA, contact Mike at 724-256-1736 or Dave at 724-290-0254.

Christie and Mildren said that the last time the traveling wall was in Butler was in 2000, three years before the American Legion Riders formed.

Mildren said her group will escort the traveling wall when it arrives in the county on a one-ton truck to the VA Butler Healthcare.

Then, once it gets to its destination, the group will help set up the exhibit.

“The driver will supervise us. We will have 20 adults over 18 to assemble. We will also have 20 people to disassemble,” she said. The group will also be responsible for policing the site and ensuring there are scratch pads and charcoal available for visitors to make rubbings of the names etched in the panels.

Christie said once the traveling wall is erected it will be open to visitors 24/7 with his group’s members providing security at the site.

The riders will hand out a free booklet to visitors of the exhibit.

“It will be informative, very educational,” Christie said. “There will be different speakers every day. All speakers will relay what happened to them in Vietnam. They are not necessarily all from Butler County.”

Mildren said, “It does not cost anything to view. There is no admission fee or any cost for the book. You just come and pay your respects.”

Christie and Mildren said their group has been working on this project for almost a year.

The American Legion Riders were first formed in 1993 by a Legion post in Garden City, Mich.

The Butler chapter was started in 2003 with 13 members. To be a member, one must belong to an American Legion organization or auxiliary — be a veteran and own a motorcycle.

At present the Butler chapter of the American Legion Riders has nearly 100 members and takes part in parades, benefit rides, veterans aid projects and annual Christmas parties, among other activities.

When the exhibit leaves the VA Butler Healthcare grounds, the riders will have one final duty to complete.

Mildren said, “We will be escorting items left at the wall. They will be taken to the national wall.”

Christie said “This isn’t a fundraiser for the Legion Riders. All proceeds go to the national wall. Any money or mementos will be taken to Washington, D.C. We already have the bus rented for the trip in September.”