Shadyside native is the oldest person on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
Trending
ST. CLAIRSVILLE - A Shadyside native is the oldest person whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, and his granddaughter is keeping his memory alive.
Kenna Clyde Taylor was 62 years old when he died during active service in Vietnam on September 21, 1970.
He was a Petty Officer First Class in the U.S. Navy.
"I can’t imagine being 62 years old in 1970. Now 62 in 2026, that’s a different animal, but it just speaks to the depth of his commitment and love he had for the greatest nation in the world because we have the greatest people and the greatest patriots in the world," granddaughter Jo Ann Jones-Copeland said.
On Wednesday, Jones-Copeland carried and helped to erect the panel of The Wall That Heals that has her grandfather's name on it.
The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which will be at the Belmont County Fair Grounds from Oct. 1-4 and will be available to see around the clock until it is taken down on Sunday.
"This is certainly a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to those great American heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice," Jones-Copeland said. "My grandfather was a great American patriot who loved this country."
She added that she believes The Wall That Heals is an opportunity to give thanks and to be grateful for those family members and loved ones who not only loved their families but had a greater love for the country.
Jones-Copeland said that she is incredibly proud of her grandfather for serving the country.
"I get emotional thinking about it. My grandfather was a great man. He was a great grandfather, a great father, and a great husband," Jones-Copeland said. "He was a great singer of song and a great teller of tales. He taught me many songs when I was very young, and he loved to eat apple pie."
Belmont County Tourism Council executive director and Belmont County Wall That Heals Committee co-chair Jackee Pugh said that more than 60 names from the wall were represented by a loved one while The Wall That Heals was erected.
"Not only is it an emotional event, but it’s a moment of healing for these loved ones as they get to feel that connection with their person that passed away during the war," Pugh said.
She added that the committee reached out to residents in nine surrounding counties in efforts to be able to provide the loved one the opportunity to write a handwritten note, in front of their panel.
Pugh said that in addition to the notes, a rose will be placed in front of each one of the panels.
"We really feel like although the wall is here in Belmont County, this is for the whole Ohio Valley," Pugh said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Ohio Valley, and we really wanted to make everyone feel included and and promote that this is an opportunity for education and healing for everyone."
She added that inmates from Belmont County Correctional Institute assisted with the installation of the wall.
Warden Shelbie Smith said that the institute was contacted by the Wall That Heals committee and asked if it could bring incarcerated individuals and institute staff to assist in the installation. That group will tear down the wall on Sunday as well.
"We work with veterans, and they come inside the institute and help with our incarcerated people. Plus, we also have a staff veterans program, and an incarcerated persons veterans program inside," Smith said. "About eight months ago, they said that they needed some help, so today we brought 18 of our incarcerated people, along with about 21 of our staff, and together we’re helping put the wall together."
She added that she wanted to thank the Wall That Heals for including the institute and to thank all of the country's veterans.
"I just want to say thank you to the veterans for what they’ve done for us. I also think it’s important for us to give back to the community and be a part of the community," Smith said. "The fact that I have probably one hundred plus staff members that are veterans, and also incarcerated people that are veterans. I think it’s important to see us work together as a team for things like this."
She added that she wanted the institute to be a part of The Wall That Heals because several staff members as well as incarcerated people have somebody that they love on the wall.
"Everybody can’t come out because they don't have the gate clearance. But I know that they’ll watch it on TV and they’ll see that we’re out here in the community doing positive things for veterans," Smith said.
In addition to installing the wall the incarcerated individuals also assisted family members of the veterans whose names are on the wall to carry the panel that has their loved one's name on it.