Vietnam Walkway Re-Dedication In Newport

Tony Molina cuts the ribbon with Mayor Kaplan and Newport Councilors Jacobi and Emond (photo courtesy of Sharon Biddinger, Simply Design Studios)

On Tuesday September 23rd 2025 local community members gathered to celebrate the dedication of the Vietnam Walk, a project years in the making and rich with local history. The story began when Don Davis and the Newport City Council intervened to prevent the park from becoming a trailer court, envisioning instead a space for reflection and honor. “As he was putting together the park, I asked him about putting a memorial here,” recalled Tony Molina, who came up with the idea for the memorial walk. Though initially hesitant, Don and Molina soon joined forces, rallying the entire community behind the cause.

The response was immediate and overwhelming, said Molina. “If I called any one business, they would come right away. On one occasion, the Public Utility District (PUD) sent two trucks on short notice to help erect an obelisk on a stand, a centerpiece of the memorial." Years later, attention turned to the park’s storytelling wall, which had fallen into disrepair. “So many years have gone by that the storytelling wall with the poem was in bad shape," Molina explained. The city of Newport responded swiftly, taking on the restoration and deepening its commitment to the park.

These efforts culminated in a rededication ceremony, bringing together city officials, local businesses, and residents to honor the past and look to the future. During the re-dedication ceremony, Molina read the names of those locally who lost their lives in Vietnam. The city’s involvement, from fixing the storytelling wall to supporting the memorial, has tied the community even closer to this cherished space. Roger Robertson, long-time friend of Molina, read a poem that Molina had written about the memorial wall, which can be viewed on the Oregon Coast Breaking News facebook page.