A total of 2,649 Michigan men and women lost their lives in Vietnam during the years of war that scarred the country in Southeast Asia - one of the highest totals of any state in the nation.

Now, 13 years after the official start of the Michigan Vietnam Memorial Commission, those 2,649 names - including 15 from Clinton County - have a permanent place of honor at the state's capital in Lansing.

The arc that will hold the individual name plates was delivered yesterday to the monument site in the All Veterans Park that is located at Allegan and Butler streets, just west of the Capitol building.

"Standing in front of it, you feel incredibly dwarfed," said Christian Riddle, executive assistant in the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs who is the project coordinator.

"This piece that cradles the names is really an engineering miracle."

A cavalcade of Vietnam veterans on motorcyles was set to escort the main I-beam from Union Fitting & Fabricating in Jackson where it was constructed to the monument site.

Advance planning by veteran's organizations had limited the number of bikes in the main escort to 1,000, but many more vets were expected to take part in the journey along US-127 and in related activities.

An open house after the ceremonies at the monument site was planned at VFW Post 6132 in Lansing. Other units hosting events were VFW Post 823 and American Legion Post 29, both near Jackson.

The delivery of the arc is the most significant event to date in the major undertaking that involves participants from each county in Michigan.

Gordon Shipley, a member of VFW Post 4113 in St. Johns, is the Clinton County captain on the monument comission. Like his counterparts, he is anxious to see the completed memorial.

Dedication of the monument is planned for 11 a.m. on Veteran's Day - 11-11-11 - an appropriate time for the tribute to Michigan's Vietnam vets.

"We're trying to get information to the local communities and to all the veteran's organizations," Shipley said. "We're also trying to promote a final, big push for the purchase of memorial bricks which will be used in landscaping at the site."

Each brick will be engraved with the name of the purchaser or memorial designee. Single bricks are $100; double-size bricks are $150.

"Several veteran's groups in the county have purchased commemorative bricks," Shipley said, adding that Labor Day Weekend is the deadline for placing orders.

While major supporters of the $2.6 million project have included $600,000 from the United Auto Workers Region 1 and $80,000 from the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association in donations of trees and landscape materials for the site, donations from veteran's organizations across the state and from individuals were instrumental in raising the $1.7 million needed to get the project underway.

"We're always ready to accept contributions of any amount," Riddle said, noting many donations of $26.49 have been received - representing the number of Michigan names on the Vietnam monument. Each $26.49 donor receives a pin in the shape of a copper star embossed with '2,649.'

For information on making a donation to the Michigan Vietnam Monument Commission call 1-800-492-2649. For information on purchasing a memorial brick call Shipley, 224-4792.