Missouri's National Veterans Memorial

Vietnam War veteran Dennis Patterson, of Willow Springs, Mo., who served in the navy, places his hand over the name of his cousin U.S. Army Maj. James Tremayne during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. "He had stars in his future," Patterson said of his late cousin. The memorial features a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jason Miesner of Perryville, Missouri, 6, walks along a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. His mother, Becky Miesner, said both of Jason's great-grandfathers served in the military. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Vietnam War veteran Jon Arthur of Grove, Okla., has his picture taken by his wife Karen Arthur next to a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Flowers and an America flag sit along a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson speaks to the crowd during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Spectators listen to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson speak during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson speaks to the crowd during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Vietnam War veteran Tom Tocco of St. Louis, Missouri, and his wife Pam Tocco examine a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

A flower is seen on a full-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the grand opening of Missouri's National Veterans Memorial on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Perryville, Missouri. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)