Despite the heat wave, thousands of people traveled to Hicksville last weekend to touch and look upon the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall. Traversing across the United States since 1990, the Dignity Wall is a three-quarter scale, traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial, the most-visited Washington DC monument.

The faux-granite, eight foot tall Dignity Wall arrived in Hicksville last week and was erected in the Sears parking lot, where it remained on exhibit around the clock from June 6 to June 8. Surrounded by landscaping donated by the Holtsville-based Bissett Nursery, the Dignity Wall provided residents and local veterans the opportunity to view, first-hand, the names of the 58,260 men and women who served and sacrificed for this country during the Vietnam War.

During the course of the three days, various services were held to honor the Vietnam service men and women. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 22-07 performed the national anthem and Taps. Hofstra Entertainment performed The Remembered on both Saturday and Sunday, reading the letters from soldiers killed during the war that were left by family members and friends at the Washington monument.

On Friday, elementary school students toured both the memorial and the surrounding tents, which were filled with photographs and weapons used during the war. The students were also able to make etchings from the names on the Wall, a unique opportunity not allowed at the real memorial. Sunday afternoon featured the dedication of an engraved stone in memory of the men and women who served in Vietnam and later died from Agent Orange exposure. The final line on the stone, which next month will be permanently located at Wagner Funeral Home, reads: "We honor and remember their sacrifice."

Although the memorial is specific to the war in Vietnam, Patrick Crowe, past president of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and general manager of Wagner Funeral Homes, said it represents an overall tribute to everyone who fought for our country. "It honors all service men and women," said Crowe.

"Some people follow the Wall," said Vietnam Wall coordinator Charles Spencer, who went on to describe the emotion and tears brought forth by "finding connections" with the fellow visitors and the 58,000-plus names on the Wall.

With sentimental memorabilia placed around the Wall, along with the tangible emotion from the visitors, thousands of people were both uplifted and touched by the Dignity Memorial. By conclusion Sunday, the Dignity Wall was adorned with flags, newspaper clippings, photographs, flowers and other memorabilia left by family members, friends and community members all touched by the Vietnam War.

In Hicksville, one woman wiped a tear from her eye as she showed veterans an old photograph of a loved one while another brought a newspaper clipping that featured a handsome, young boy with excerpts from a letter he wrote during the Vietnam War. Others chose to stay in their cars, finding satisfaction in simply viewing the memorial from afar.

"Just being able to see it provides another sense of closure," said Oyster Bay's Veterans Services Officer Walter Schmidt.

Although the heat and Belmont Stakes may have prevented many visitors from coming to view the memorial during the day, the exhibit's 24-hour nature provided a constant flow while also providing visitors wishing to avoid the crowds or hot sun an opportunity to see the Wall as well. "We had a larger turnout at night than we could have expected," said Schmidt.

"I am confident that everyone walked away from this experience feeling lifted by this amazing exhibit," said Oyster Bat Town Supervisor John Venditto.

Like the Washington DC monument, the Dignity Wall includes the names of those Oyster Bay Town residents who gave their life, including the following from Hicksville: William Chomy, Carl Noel Kozma, Joseph Mark Mazzone, Robert Ernest Rausch, Paul Coburn Sawtelle, Ralph Schiavone, James Edward Stolz Jr., Stanley Robert Tomasovic, Paul Douglas Walkowski and Stanley Wilenski Jr.

Following its three-day stop in Hicksville the Dignity Wall was dismantled and loaded back into the trailer. It is currently on its way to Chicago where it will continue to touch thousands of people who may never have been to our nation's capitol to see the real memorial.