Memorial Day Weekend in Coulterville California

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By Glynn Wilson –

COULTERVILLE, Calif. — Over Memorial Day weekend, the quiet Sierra foothill town of Coulterville become a gathering place for remembrance, music and community as Banderitas Days returned 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. — arrived 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 was set up in Banderitas All Veterans Memorial Park at 5057 Broadway Street. There was a period of Reflection and Viewing on Friday.

The Grand Entrance Opening Ceremonies took place beginning at Noon on Saturday.

On Sunday, a delegation from the Vietnam Consulate General’s Office in San Francisco and Los Angeles was honored as special guests at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9454.

Present were Ms. Ho Huong Giang, Deputy Consul General, along with Mr. Le Cong Hung, Consul, Ms. Tran Hoang Yen, Consul, Mr. Le Tung Son, Consul and Mr. Tuan Trung Pham, Vietnam Television International correspondent and Mr. Trong Duc Le, Vietnam Television International cameraman.

VFW Post 9454 Commander Jesse Salcedo, also with Banditeras All Veterans Memorial Park, welcomed the special guests. VFW 9454 Chaplain James Rhodes recited opening prayers and introduced guests.

Coulterville was an American community that celebrated, with the staff of the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, the 50^th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Vietnam, the 30^th year anniversary of normalization of relations between Vietnam and the United States hosted at the International Order of Odd Fellows

Guests included John Navarro and members of the American Indian Veterans Association (Peace & Balance); John Devitt (Michigan) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Foundation; VFW Post 9454 members and auxiliary; as well as Past California Department Veterans of Foreign Wars commander Dennis Wells and (Auxiliary) Sue Wells.

Students from Woodland Elementary School presented “Get Well” cards to the children at the Friendship Village in Hanoi, Vietnam, third generation herbicidal poison victims (Agent Orange).

Also welcomed were 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 the water dilemma.

Interfaith and Baha’i communities promoting healing, peace, reconciliation, unity were also welcomed, along with the Rev. Jerry and Barbara Johnson with the New Day Recovery Home, and Tim Chang with Humboldt Tree Service who handled the cooking for lunch.

Rosalyn Martinez Curtis was welcomed for her role in health and wellness, along with Erica Wolfsen with the International Order of Odd Fellows.

Yosemite Radio technical adviser Steve Michelsen was recognized along with Station Manager and News Director Glynn Wilson with YosemiteRadio.Org, KNHA  100.9 FM.

Marilyn Saunders, president Economic Development Corporation of Mariposa County was welcomed, along with County Administrator Joe Lynch.

James Rhodes (6^th Special Operations-Search & Rescue) gave the BACKGROUND of our working relationship with the government of Vietnam including Nina Rhodes, and talked about their tours at the American Embassy in Hanoi as United States State Department Fulbright Educational Specialist during the Obama administration and years of service as Baha’i pioneers also in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Keynote Address delivered by Ms. Ho Huong Giang, Deputy Consul General.

Then there was a private tour of the Yosemite Radio studio before the delegation departed Coulterville.