ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Vietnam Moving Wall Committee lowered a vault into the ground on Friday at Eldridge Park, to be dug up in the next quarter century. Vietnam vets, family members, and people from the community were able to add more artifacts before it was put in the ground.  

The vault was filled with flags, pictures, letters, and other mementos in recognition of the Vietnam War. The vault's lid showcases a piece of art that was designed specifically for this event. Some of the veterans in attendance on Friday say they came to pay their respects.  

“I feel it's something I need to do. It's hard, but I'm no different than anybody else,” Kenneth Andrews, whose brother-in-law Richard Barnes was killed in Vietnam.  “Everybody who goes to the wall has the same issues; people they know there, and they suffer too.”  

Andrews met Richie Barnes in the 1950s before he married Richie's sister in the '60s. Richie served in Vietnam after Kenneth returned home from serving during the Cold War. Kenneth now serves as a member of the Marine Corps League as a way to continue honoring his brother-in-law.  

“I needed some way to honor Rich,” Andrews said. “I honored Richie by joining the Marine Corps League, and I'm proud of that.”  

Veteran and firefighter Jimmy Webster volunteered at the Moving Wall earlier this month. He also helped bury the vault on Friday afternoon. He says he was taken aback by the show of continued community support.  

“That's why I love this community. It's all about helping each other out, it doesn't matter what area you come from or what your age is, we're all here to help each other,” Webster said. “It's nice to see everybody come together these last few weeks and honor our Vietnam veterans.”  

The vault will remain buried at Eldridge Park for the next 25 years when it will be brought up to share the artifacts that are inside.