Photo by Deb Gau Nancy Laible kneels down to photograph the name of a Murray County service member on the American Veterans Traveling Tribute wall on Tuesday

SLAYTON — There was a good-sized crowd gathering at the Slayton soccer fields Tuesday evening, but the atmosphere was a solemn one.

People spread out in ones and twos as they walked the length of a wall of names — the names of U.S. military service members who died during the Vietnam War.

Nancy Laible knelt down to photograph a name toward the bottom of one wall panel. She said she was looking for one of the few Murray County service members killed in Vietnam.

“His name was Herman Ebbinga. He died June 17, 1967, and he was from Avoca,” Laible said.

Other visitors, like Hadley resident Richard Like, weren’t looking for a specific name.

“I just came to pay respects to everyone,” he said. “I had two brothers that served in Vietnam.” His brothers were both fortunate enough to come home again, but Like also wanted to remember those who didn’t come home.

Opening ceremonies for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, an 80% scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, were held Tuesday in Slayton. The Traveling Tribute will be open to the public the rest of this week. With the Murray County Fair also going on in Slayton this week, fairgoers are encouraged to come see the memorial wall, local organizers said.

“I want to thank the whole community and the area for making this a reality,” said Brad Pagel, commander of the Slayton American Legion post. Contributions from the community helped cover the cost of bringing the tribute wall to Slayton.

Pagel said 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the official end of the Vietnam War. More than 58,000 service members made the ultimate sacrifice during the fighting, Pagel said.

“Their names are on the wall right here,” he said.

A total of 1,072 Minnesotans had their names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That includes around two dozen service members from southwest Minnesota, Pagel said. A group of four wreaths and a metal cutout set up on the field near the wall paid tribute to area servicemen including Warrant Officer Raymond Cooreman of Tracy; Capt. Herman Ebbinga of Avoca; Pfc. John Erbes of Tracy; Warrant Officer Ronald Redenius of Fulda; and Airman Jon Turner of Balaton.

Family members of each of the five area servicemen were recognized in the opening ceremonies.

“We would like to thank the families for being here,” Pagel said.

In addition to the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Pagel said there were also separate displays as part of the Cost of Freedom Tribute. The smaller panels honored American lives lost on 9/11, and in conflicts like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Organizers said the Traveling Tribute wall will be free and open to the public around the clock until it is taken down Sunday morning. A Huey helicopter is planned to visit the Traveling Tribute on Friday and Saturday, Pagel said. On Saturday afternoon, closing ceremonies and a flag retirement ceremony will be held at the display.