Attendees of the 79th annual American Indian Exposition in Oklahoma arranged to host the The Moving Wall, but the veterans group pulled out at the last minute, citing problems with the event.

Tribes and Indian veterans raised money for the $4,500 application fee and to cover other expenses associated with the wall, which is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. But when it came time to honor the display last week, it wasn't there.

“People were very disappointed,” Sherman Chaddlesone, an official with the Kiowa Tribe and a Vietnam veteran, told Indian Country Today. “They expressed that, each one that got up to speak on the mike – a lot of sadness.”

The Vietnam Combat Veterans pulled out due to concerns about the structure that would be used for the wall and had other complaints about the exposition. The group said it would refund the $4,500 application fee.

Get the Story:
Vietnam Combat Veterans refuses to set up Moving wall at American Indian Exposition (Indian Country Today 8/9)
American Indian Expo Loses Veteran's Memorial (KOCO-TV 8/5)
Native American expo vs. Vietnam wall (KFOR-TV 8/5)