Gov. Baker in Fall River Tuesday. (Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio)
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced a big boost for the city of Fall River and its efforts to build a permanent monument for Vietnam War veterans Tuesday.
The Baker administration and state legislature are contributing $600,000 for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, which is being built at Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park.
Baker made the announcement at Fall River Government Center, saying the project is a fitting tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
"We know that the only reason we get this chance to participate fully in this beautiful thing we call democracy is because so many people wrote a check, payable with their life, to the United States of America," he said. "This opportunity today to pay that back a little bit is a great opportunity for us all."
This will be the state's only permanent replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., according to Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Francisco Urena.
"This is an extension to an opportunity for those who know how beautiful Washington, D.C.'s memorials are, and may not have that flexibility to attend as often as you want," he said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports
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