ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY)-- After six days, The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC has left Eldridge Park in Elmira. Monday's closing ceremony was a special tribute to Vietnam Veterans.

The moving Vietnam wall has 58,318 names of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Since 1984 the wall has been traveling across fifty states. It arrived in Eldridge Park on June 29th and has been on display 24-7 until Monday when it came down; but not before hundreds came out to see it for the last time.

Thanks to the efforts of Vietnam Veteran Association Chapter 803 the moving wall made it to the Southern Tier. Veterans who spoke at Monday's closing ceremony say this wall is an important part of history to share with the community. 

Many who are unable to travel to DC had the opportunity to see the wall here in their own backyard, like Gottlob Clark who served as a Marine and says he came to honor the 58,318 fallen soldiers listed on this wall. He said he could've been one of them. 

"My heart goes out to the families with love and respect," Clark said.

Commander Gerald McDonald was a part of today's closing ceremony. He commands the Ritual Team with the Corning American Legion Post 746 and served in the Army for 28 years. He knew many of the vets whose names are listed on the wall.

"I was with several of those names when they were killed. This is just something we as veterans do, it's a brotherhood in arms as the General said,"McDonald explained.

General Sar Phouthasack was a speaker at today's closing ceremony. He spent 23 years in combat for MR 3 of the Special Guerilla Unit in the secret Vietnam War of Laos. He reported directly to the CIA and explains over 50,000 vets on this wall may be gone, but are not forgotten. 

"I honor and respect. I never forget about all of our brothers in Vietnam," Phouthasack said.

J.R. Clairborne is a vet who served in the U.S Army. He says it was important for him to bring his daughter to see the wall before it came down. He had the opportunity to see the Vietnam War Memorial wall in DC when he was seventeen.

"The wall is important because it's really to help people never forget and I felt it was important that my daughter sees this version here locally, Clairborne said. 

The next stop for the Vietnam moving wall is Randolph, New Jersey. It will be there from July 7th through July 11th.  

You can find the schedule for the moving wall for the rest of the year here.