Hundreds of people attended the opening ceremony for the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience in South Portland Friday afternoon.

“This is so emotional for me,” said South Portland Mayor Maxine Beecher speaking at the ceremony.

The mayor told the crowd of the city’s new holiday, Veterans Recognition Weekend, while speaking at the Spring Point Light Shoreway at Southern Maine Community College where the wall has been constructed. The new holiday will be on this weekend each year.

The opening ceremonies started at 1 p.m. Friday and lasted until after 2 p.m. The ceremony included a reading of the pledge of allegiance, the singing of the national anthem and a 21-gun salute. In addition to Beecher, Gov. John Baldacci, Robert Barnes, chairman of the committee that worked to bring the wall to South Portland, and others spoke to a large audience.

“Let’s hope today is a small token of appreciation for what they did for us,” said Baldacci. Closing ceremonies are on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 5 p.m.

Vets celebrate wall’s arrival