Roads will be closed temporarily Wednesday as about 4,000 motorcyclists escort the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Memorial Wall in a parade from Wright State University’s Nutter Center in Fairborn to the Greene County Fairgrounds.

Motorcyclists will begin meeting at 3 p.m. today outside of the arena, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, to escort the replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, said Wm. Timothy Spradlin, one of five Greene County Veterans Services commissioners.

The 380-foot replica will be on display at the fairgrounds through Sunday.

“It’s about honoring all veterans, but it’s especially a welcome home to our Vietnam veterans that is long over due,” said Spradlin, a Iraqi War veteran and one of the event’s organizers. “It is also so the public doesn’t forget that there is a cost to service. We get busy and we forget there are military all over the world that are displaced from their families. They are there protecting the freedoms we all enjoy.”

The five-day tribute sponsored by Greene County Veterans Tribute Committee includes elements honoring veterans of the Korean War, the Gulf War, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as fire and police personnel lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

The event is free to the public.

Buckminn’s D&D Harley-Davidson in Xenia provided much of the $10,000 needed to bring the exhibition to Greene County, according to Lance Woodward, director of the Greene County Veterans Services Commission.

He said the names of the 34 Greene County residents who died in the Vietnam War will be read 10:30 a.m. Saturday during the Honor and Remember the Cost of Freedom memorial service. It is believed to be the first time the traveling memorial will visit Greene County.

Wednesday’s wall escort ride is being co-sponsored by the tribute committee and The Ohio Guard Riders.

The southbound lane of North Fairfield Road between Colonel Glenn Highway and New-Germany-Trebein Road and the eastbound lane of New Germany-Trebein Road between North Fairfield Road and Trebein Road will be closed for about two hours beginning at 6 p.m.

Exit ramps from I-675 to North Fairfield Road will be closed, according to a police advisory. Northbound traffic at New Germany–Trebein will be diverted onto the westbound lane of Pentagon Boulevard. The eastbound lane of Pentagon Boulevard will be diverted onto southbound North Fairfield and westbound New Germany Trebein will be diverted onto northbound North Fairfield, which will then be diverted onto north I-675. Access to many of the stores in the North Fairfield Road and Pentagon in Beavercreek will be affected.

How you can participate: Events to honor veterans

Below are a few events honoring war veterans to be held as part of the Greene County Veterans Tribute. Unless noted, events will be held at the Greene County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Road, Xenia Twp . Visit www.co.greene.oh.us/veterans for more events.

WEDNESDAY

3 p.m. — Staging for the Amercan Veterans Traveling Tribute escort parade at WSU Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway.

6 p.m. — Parade from Nutter Center to the Xenia to the Greene County Fairgrounds

THURSDAY

8 a.m. — Colors are posted by the American Legion Post 763 of Beavercreek

1 p.m. — Opening Ceremony

6:15 p.m. Concert by Xenia Hospitality Chorus and Kirkmont Presbyterian Church Choir

FRIDAY

8 a.m. — Colors are posted by Amvets Post 14 of Xenia

8:30 a.m. — Memorial Service: Never forget Sept. 11th first responders.

7 p.m. — Free concert by “Corky’s Old Time Rock and Roll band

SATURDAY

8 a.m. — Colors are posted by VFW Post 2402

10:30 a.m. — Memorial Service – Honor and remember the Cost of Freedom

6:30 p.m. —Patriotic music by the Wright State University Men’s Chorale

7 p.m. — Free concert by “TARP” rock n roll band

SUNDAY

8 a.m. — Colors posted by American Legion Post 95

8:15 a.m. — Interdenominational Worship Service - Pastor John Corcoran, USAF ret, Vietnam veteran

2 p.m. — Closing ceremony