Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Barnett
Editor’s note: Information taken from The Wall That Heals website, http://www.vvmf.org.
On Veterans Day 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveiled a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., designed to travel to communities throughout the United States.
“The Wall That Heals” has visited more than 300 U.S. cities, and in 1999 made its first international tour to the
Four Provinces of Ireland to honor the Irish-born casualties of the Vietnam War and the Irish-Americans who served. It has also traveled to Canada.
The traveling wall and museum allow veterans who feel they can’t face visiting “The Wall” memorial the chance to visit the half-scale replica in the comfort of their communities, to allow the healing process to begin.
“The Wall That Heals” is approximately 250 feet in length, and like the original memorial, is in a chevron-shape. The replica is complete with the 58,249 names of those killed or missing in action from the conflict. When new names are added to the memorial in Washington, D.C., “The Wall That Heals” is updated as soon as possible.
The trailer that carries the exhibit converts into a museum featuring photos of servicemembers whose names are on the wall and letters left at the memorial. The display cases also contain memorabilia from the Vietnam War.
There is an information center where visitors can find names either in a directory of names or by asking one of the volunteers at the computers.
The ‘Wall That Heals’ will be available for viewing 24 hours a day, through Monday at 9:30 a.m., adjacent to Kit Carson Park outside Gate 1.