Wall rolls into Lynn

LYNN – Michael McCafferty died serving his country in Vietnam and so his aunt stood on Broadway in the midday sun Tuesday watching as a motorcycle phalanx escorted a mobile tribute to McCafferty and his comrades in arms into Lynn.”It’s wonderful,” Gladys Alfonsi said as a semi-truck carrying The Wall That Heals headed to Fraser Field, “It makes people stop and think again.”The wall will be unloaded and set up this morning in Fraser Field. It will be open for public viewing beginning Thursday at 8 a.m. with a ceremony that will include wreath presentations scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.The wall will remain open for around-the-clock visitations until Sunday at midnight. The Locust Street entrance to Fraser Field will be the primary access to the field during the wall’s visit and the Western Avenue field gates will be open during daylight hours.Alfonsi is slated to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony Thursday evening. Michael McCafferty’s nephew, William, will help her carry the wreath to its designated spot.”He never met his uncle but he’s old enough to know what it’s all about,” Alfonsi said.Cathy Carmody’s son, Michael, is in an Army unit set to deploy overseas this winter.”It’s close to home,” she said as she gazed up at the giant American flag suspended from Swampscott Ladder 21 and Lynn Tower 4. Her husband, Dennis, and another son, Chris, work for the Fire Department.The truck carrying the wall and traveling museum passed beneath the flag at 2:33 p.m. as Alfonsi, Carmody and more than 100 other spectators cheered and clapped.”It’s awesome everyone came down to see it,” said Stephanie King, daughter of a Vietnam veteran and granddaughter of a World War II vet.The wall crossed into Massachusetts from New York Tuesday escorted by Rolling Thunder and Patriot Guard motorcycle club members.The clubs travel around the country, paying their respects at military funerals, and raising money to support veterans’ support efforts.Katie Tardiff took time out of her Tuesday to watch the procession roll down Broadway. Two of her cousins served in Vietnam and she looks forward to taking younger members of her family to visit the wall during its four-day stay in Lynn.”It’s important to show kids those who made a sacrifice of service and to show we are always thinking of them,” she said.Click here for more coverage of the Traveling WallClick here for photos from the parade and moreClick Here to see the Traveling Wall Special Section