“The Wall that Heals,” one of the two half-size replicas of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be displayed in Wake Forest for four days in October, Oct. 18 through 21.
Commissioner Greg Harrington announced the visit during the Wake Forest Town Board’s work session Tuesday evening.
The plan is to display the wall on the lawn in front of the Calvin Jones House and the Wake Forest Historical Museum on North Main Street because it is an open public space large enough. The visit is sponsored by the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation.
Today Harrington said the steering committee would begin meeting to plan for the visit next week. “We do need volunteers and also MONEY.”
The website says: “The Wall that Heals” is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for thirty-plus years. When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the positive power of “The Wall.” He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington.
“John, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Wall that Heals. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October of 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each site.”
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Also at the board’s work session, Hilda Parler asked the commissioners and mayor to add a salute to the North Carolina flag after the Pledge of Allegiance which opens their business meetings. A law adopting the pledge was enacted in 2007 – and if you have never heard of it, neither had anyone else at the meeting.
Parler recited it, “I salute the flag of North Carolina and pledge to the Old North State love, loyalty, and faith” with her right arm outstretched, hand palm up.
“I have a problem with it,” Harrington said. “I have a problem standing out with my hand out like this. It has a connotation of something else.” Today he said, “I just cannot support the pledge by holding my hand out like a Nazi salute.”
The board did not agree to adding the salute.
The commissioners and mayor heard from candidates for the planning board, board of adjustment and design review board.
Commissioner Brian Pate challenged Town Manager Kip Padgett to a bet on the upcoming Oklahoma-Georgia football game. The loser has to wear the winning team’s hat during the next board meeting. Pate also said the town should prepare for another state football championship to be played Saturday.
