American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Wall Makes 2011 Metro Detroit Appearance July 27 - 31, 2011 as Part of Detroit Bike Week: Welcome Ceremony Wednesday July 27

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American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Wall Makes 2011 Metro Detroit Appearance July 27 – 31, 2011 as Part of Detroit Bike Week
Welcome Ceremony Wednesday July 27

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute, featuring a mobile replica of the Vietnam Wall and other patriotic attractions honoring the nation’s veterans, is scheduled for a five-day stop in Metro Detroit from July 27 – 31, 2011.  Sponsored by Detroit Bike Week and Top Notch Entertainment & Events, Inc., this is the only 2011 Metro Detroit area appearance of the nationally acclaimed touring tribute to America’s war veterans.

The Wall and Tribute visit kicks off with a welcoming ceremony and motorcycle escorted ride from the Compuware Sports Arena (14900 Beck Rd., Plymouth, Michigan) on Wednesday July 27 at 3 pm to Multi-Lakes Conservation Association (3860 Newton Rd.) in Commerce Township, Michigan. There, the public is invited to see the Wall and Cost of Freedom Tribute as part of Detroit Bike Week from July 28 - 31.

The Traveling Wall is a replica, 80 percent the size, of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.  The mission of the project is to travel the nation to honor respect, and remember men and women who served, and to pay specific tribute to those who gave all in that service. Since the tribute is mobile it allows people to honor and respect veterans and active military personnel without having to travel great distances to do so.

Spanning the area of nearly two football fields there are many memorials and exhibits such as The Cost of Freedom Memorial, a series of standing exhibits created in gold dog tags to record the names of those who gave their lives for our freedom since Vietnam, including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; 9-11 memorials including a lighted Twin Towers exhibit; the Walk of Hero's display provides education regarding our country's history and conflicts that insured our freedom; World War II and Korean War pictorial displays and tributes to police and fire.
On Thursday July 28th opening ceremonies will take place at 6pm and the Traveling Tribute will be open to the public.  Each day of Bike Week there will be ceremonies honoring those who served and those who gave all for their freedom. Visitors can participate in ceremonies such as Walk the Wall, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, etc.  There will also Posting of Colors by the Honor Guard daily, laying of wreaths by various organizations and Taps nightly. 
There will also be special ceremonies for families and veterans to participate in such as Tolling of the Bells and a Candlelight Vigil Saturday July 30th in the evening led by families of names on the wall and a formal Ride of Honor Sunday afternoon July 31st. 
Detroit Bike Week kicks off Thursday, July 28 and runs through Sunday July 31 with continuous live music, a custom bike show, freestyle Motocross, demo rides, burnout pits, and more - Detroit Bike Week is Metro Detroit’s largest motorcycle festival.  For a complete schedule, including ticket information, please visit www.detroitbikeweek.com.

Bikers, Veterans and the general public are invited to join the ride escorting The Wall from Plymouth to Commerce Township on Wednesday and the Ride of Honor on Sunday as well as other ceremonies throughout the five days.  Families of names on the wall are invited to participate in special ceremonies.  For more information about how to participate contact Jill Starceswski at jill@detroitbikeweek.com or .

For more information about American Veterans Traveling Tribute, including a virtual tour, visit www.avtt.org

Editor's note: Representatives from the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Wall/Cost of Freedom Memorial and Detroit Bike Week are available for interviews.

Relevant web sites:

Avtt.org
Detroitbikeweek.com

Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall To Be On Display During Detroit Bike Week At Multi-Lakes Conservation Association

Commerce, MI (June 1, 2011) — Veterans and active members of America’s armed services travel great distances and make great sacrifices to preserve and protect freedom and liberty and now you can honor these service men and women during the Detroit Bike Week at Multi-Lakes Conservation Association.

The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) Traveling Wall will visit Detroit bike Week on July 28 - 31, 2011. Opening Ceremony will be on Thursday July 28 at 6 pm. Visit the wall Friday, May 29 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday, July 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday July 31 from 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. supporters are invited to attend a special wreath laying ceremony at the Wall at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29.

The Traveling Wall is an 80 percent scale version of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. Across its 370-foot length the wall contains every single name etched on the original. At its apex the memorial is an impressive eight-feet tall.

The traveling wall was completed in early 1998 and began traveling that year. AVTT’s traveling wall is the largest Wall replica traveling the United States.

The mission of the project is to travel the nation to honor, respect, and remember men and women who served, and to pay specific tribute to those who gave all in that service. Since the tribute is mobile it allows people to honor and respect veterans and active military personnel without having to travel great distances to do so.

The other memorials and exhibits included in the AVTT event include:

• The Cost of Freedom Memorial:
A series of stand-up exhibits created in gold dog tags to record the names of those who gave their lives for our freedom during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• 911 Memorials:
A stand-up exhibit to make sure we never forget the tragedies that took place on 9/11. Each name is recorded according to their location at the time of the tragedy.

• Walk Of Heroes:
A series of stand-up’s that pay tribute and provide education regarding our country’s history, as well as conflicts America was involved in to insure our freedom.

• Vietnam Remembered:
A series of stand-up exhibits of the Vietnam timeline, for viewing, education, and reflection.

• Tribute Panel:
Anyone can purchase a custom inscribed dog tag to place on our tribute panel. This is a tribute and a personal message to a loved one, past or present.

• 1980-2000 Conflicts:
A stand-up display with the listing of the names, photos, and information on all the conflicts our country has been involved in between 1980-2000.

• World War II:
To assure all living veterans are honored, AVTT presents displays of pictures and information, which includes timelines and casualty by country stand-up displays to pay specific tribute to WWII veterans.

• Korean War:
A beautiful pictorial display of the men who fought the forgotten war along with battle maps and the war timeline.

You can keep up with all of the latest news from Detroit Bike Week at www.detroitbikeweek.com on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DetroitBikeWeek and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/#!/DetroitBikeWeek