Rocky Point Park will host the Traveling Vietnam Wall, an exhibit modeled after the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, throughout the upcoming weekend.

The wall will be open to the public from 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 8 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10. An opening ceremony is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. on Friday, and Saturday and Sunday will see ceremonies held at 2:09 p.m. to honor the 209 Rhode Islanders who lost their lives in Vietnam.

The display is hosted by Operation Stand Down, a nonprofit that provides support for at-risk veterans, as well as the Gaspee Days and RI 250 committees. All event proceeds and donations will go to Operation Stand Down.

According to Gaspee Days committee member Mark Russell, the timing of the event is one with special significance, as it is the fiftieth anniversary of the end of U.S. involvement in the war. While Russell did not serve in Vietnam, the timing has personal significance for him as well.

“Fifty years ago, I graduated from Holy Cross with a diploma and everyone patting me on the back,” Russell said. “At the same time, a lot of these folks were returning from prison camps, and no one was patting them on the back, and that bothered me.”

Russell, a Warwick native, previously helped bring the wall to India Point Park in Providence nine years ago. This time, he wanted to help display it in his home city.

After broaching the idea at a meeting, Russell said that he found strong support from many, including mayor Frank Picozzi. It was Picozzi, Russell said, who put Rocky Point Park forward as a place to host the wall in Warwick.

“Mayor Picozzi really wanted it in Rocky Point,” Russell said. “He thought it was a great idea because it’s got plenty of parking and a scenic view of the water.”

The wall arrives today, and will receive a police escort from the Cardi’s Furniture on Quaker Lane to Rocky Point Park at 9:30.

Russell is hopeful of a good turnout for the ceremonies on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and believes that Friday’s ceremony will be emotionally impactful for all that attend.

“Friday will be the big ceremony- reading the 209 names [of Rhode Islanders who died],” Russell said. “Those people all have family members, so bringing the wreath in the shape of the 209 will be a compelling moment.”

The wall is operated by the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT). The AVTT operates three different tributes, and will also have one in Dothan, AL at the same time as the wall visits Rocky Point.

According to their website, the AVTT Traveling Vietnam Wall includes 140 panels consisting of casualties of the war, as well as four additional panels that include information and statistics about the war.

Russell also worked with the AVTT nine years ago, and said that the process of working with them was a major factor in him working with them again.

“Everything went smoothly, so when this time came around, I made sure I worked with them again,” Russell said.

After the three days at Rocky Point, the Traveling Vietnam Wall will move to Parkersburg, WV, where it will remain from Sept. 13-17.