Memorial Timeline

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester all-volunteer organization was officially formed.

Monroe County Legislature unanimously gave two acres of land located in Highland Park to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

Between 5,000 and 7,000 people, many of whom are motorcycle enthusiasts and Vietnam Veterans, attend an all-day motorcycle show at the Dome Center in Henrietta as a fundraiser for the memorial.

Benefit Concert was held at Highland Bowl featuring Chet Catallo and the Cats, Lickety Split, and Top Secret.

The Moving Wall, a traveling exhibit similar to The Wall in Washington, D.C., was brought to Rochester by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

Ground Breaking Ceremony, which kicked off the construction of the Memorial, was held at the location in Highland Park.

Eight hundred people including Vietnam Veterans marched in Highland Park in support of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

Forty cadets along with local boy scouts and other volunteers plant over 150 trees and shrubs at the site of the memorial.

Proposal for the creation of the Soldier, a life-size statue of a soldier walking into a black granite wall was submitted to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Board.

Congressional Medal of Honor Society and American Forests planted the first of 3,401 trees that memorialize each of the Medal of Honor recipients.

March for the Memorial, a 6.5 mile walk took place on Memorial Day weekend to support the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

800 war veterans and others march to raise money for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

Bollards at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial were found smeared with blood, apparently the work of vandals.

Festival of Vets, which included a six mile walk-a-thon, was held to raise funds for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

Local veteran walks 50 miles alone from the site of the Memorial in Highland Park to Holley, New York, and back along the Erie Canal trails to raise support for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester.

Dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Greater Rochester takes place in Highland Park and includes an unveiling ceremony of the 280 bollards commemorating the men who died in Vietnam from the Greater Rochester area.

The Peace Pole made of granite was installed with the help of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near the Memorial’s location in Highland Park.