Greater Fort Knox Region, Ky.
James Deneen, a Vietnam veteran in Kentucky, studies the memorial, which opened to the public in April 2018. Photo submitted.
"We know what a moving experience the national [Vietnam War] memorial in Washington has been, but not everyone has the means to travel there to see it," retired Brig. Gen. Jim Iacocca said.
After the traveling version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall rolled through the Fort Knox, Ky., area, the community decided the visit just wasn't enough.
"In true fashion, this community decided it would quite literally bring the monument to our regions Vietnam veterans" said Iacocca, president and CEO of the Knox Regional Development Authority.
The community raised more than $600,000 to install a permanent 80% scale replica of the original. The memorial opened to the public in April of 2018 and draws Vietnam veterans from nearby states, he said.
The region was a 2018 Great American Defense Community.
