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Staff Report –
COULTERVILLE, Calif. — Over Memorial Day weekend, the quiet Sierra foothill town of Coulterville will once again become a gathering place for remembrance, music and community as Banderitas Days returns with a powerful centerpiece: the Vietnam Veterans Traveling Memorial Wall.
Set against the historic streets of this Gold Rush-era town, the annual festival blends celebration with reflection. This year’s observance carries particular emotional weight, as the Traveling Memorial Wall — a scaled replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. — arrives to honor those who served and those who never returned. For many veterans and their families, the Wall is more than a monument. It is a space for healing.
The Moving Wall display is already set up in the future site of Banderitas All Veterans Memorial Park at 5057 Broadway Street. There will be a period of Reflection and Viewing on Friday.
The Grand Entrance Opening Ceremonies will begin at Noon on Saturday.
We will provide SECURE PARKING beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday for a $5 DONATION to the Operation New Earth Non-Proifit and YosemiteRadio.Org in the Gazzolo building parking lot and back yard at 5016 Main Street. We will be playing music in the parking lot from the radio station feed, and several musicians and drummers will be playing guitars and drums leading up to the opening ceremony and for about an hour after.
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Mark Nordeen will be playing in the park from 2-5 on Saturday, and the community pool will open for the Summer season.
On Sunday, there will be a special event since guests from the Vietnam Consulate General’s Office will be in town.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Sunday 24 May 2026, 11 a.m.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9454 & Auxiliary, Coulterville
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WELCOMING SPECIAL DIPLOMATIC VIETNAMESE GUESTS from the
CONSULATE GENERAL OF VIETNAM in SAN FRANCISCO
Ms. Ho Huong Giang, Deputy Consul General
Mr. Le Cong Hung, Consul
Ms. Tran Hoang Yen, Consul
Mr. Le Tung Son, Consul
Mr. Tuan Trung Pham, Vietnam Television International correspondent
Mr. Trong Duc Le, Vietnam Television International cameraman
Welcome to all in attendance: VFW 9454 Commander Jesse Salcedo (Banditeras All Veterans Memorial Park)
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Opening prayers: VFW 9454 Chaplain James Rhodes
In the spirit of the White Buffalo Calf Woman and Bull Walking Upright
“Fill us with Light. Give us strength to understand and eyes that see. Teach us to walk the soft earth as relatives to ALL that live.”
Introduction of guests: VFW 9454 Chaplain James Rhodes
Note: Coulterville was an American community that celebrated, with the staff of the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, the 50th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Vietnam, the 30th year anniversary of normalization of relations between Vietnam and the United States-hosted at the International Order of Odd Fellows
John Navarro-American Indian Veterans Association (Peace & Balance)
John Devitt (Michigan) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Foundation
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9454 members
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9454 Auxiliary (Nita Gordon, Lindsay Burtle) These women and men are the lifeblood of this organization
Past California Department Veterans of Foreign Wars commander, Dennis Wells and (Auxiliary) Sue Wells
Presentation of “Get Well” cards to the children at the Friendship Village from children at Woodland Elementary School (Charlotte Lynch, Marynn Fiester)
Bob Johns, state and county recognized Veterans Service Officer
Trent Williams, veteran global traveler promoting unity
Guadlupe Sanchez, Jr, Fresno Veterans Administration-Vietnam Veterans Outreach Center
Katherine Schettler (Washington) teacher and contributor to the Indian Sovereignty Bill; Dave Schettler (Washington) civil engineer who has volunteered to assist Coulterville with our water dilemma
Interfaith and Baha’i communities promoting healing, peace, reconciliation, unity
The award winning MARIPOSA GAZETTE (Greg and Nicole Little)
Our local YOSEMITE EXPRESS (Debbie Woodbury)
SCOPE-Ken Cotner
Rev. Jerry and Barbara Johnson-It’s a NEW DAY Recovery Home
Tim Chang-Humboldt Tree Service
Rosalyn Martinez Curtis-health and wellness
Erica Wolfsen-International Order of Odd Fellows
Steve Michelsen-KYRR and KQBM
Glynn Wilson-KNHA yosemiteradio.org
Polina Pivak, Abby Miller Mariposa Arts Council (Friendship Village)
Marilyn Saunders, president Economic Development Corporation of Mariposa County (New Zones of Opportunity)
State Senator Alvarado-Gil’s office
Congressman McClintock’s office
Joe Lynch (County Administrator); Jenni Kiser (Mariposa County Board of Supervisors); Shannon Poe (Mariposa County Board of Supervisors)
James Rhodes (6th Special Operations-Search & Rescue) BACKGROUND of our working relationship with the government of Vietnam including Nina and our tours at the American Embassy in Hanoi as United States State Department Fulbright Educational Specialist during the Obama administration and our years of service as Baha’i pioneers also in Hanoi, Vietnam.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS (staff members of the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco)
Q & A, the MARIPOSA GAZETTE
Photo Opportunities
Dismissal
There will be a private tour of the Yosemite Radio studio before the delegation departs Coulterville. We apologize that this is NOT a public event, and we thank you for your understanding. KNHA 100.9 is now covering news and playing music in the former Gazzolo Saloon and Dance Hall building at 5016 Main Street.
MITAKUYE OYAS’IN
MONDAY – MEMORIAL DAY
A Day of Reflection
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