Not only will Wake Forest be honored to host The Wall That Heals, the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the town will be among the first to see the new, larger exhibit.
It will be a three-quarter scale Wall replica, 375 feet long and 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. At this size, visitors will be able to experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in Washington, D.C. For the first time in the history of The Wall That Heals, visitors will be able to perform “name rubbings” of individual service member’s names on The Wall.
The Wall and its mobile Education Center will be at the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 North Main Street, from Thursday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 21. It is free and open to all, and the exhibit will be accessible around the clock during its stay here. Wake Forest has the honor of being the only town in North Carolina scheduled to host the exhibit.
The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War and bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
“We are thrilled to share the new The Wall That Heals exhibit with the public this year,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the nonprofit group which built The Wall That Heals and coordinates its visits. “Through The Wall That Heals, we are able to return the names home to communities across the country and allow Vietnam veterans and their family members who cannot make it to Washington, D.C. the opportunity to see The Wall. It gives communities a teaching moment for younger generations on why we should honor those who have served and sacrificed so much.”
The exhibit includes The Wall replica, along with a mobile Education Center comprised of the following: digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes” – service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service; video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall and the collection of items left at The Wall in D.C.; educational exhibits told through items in the collection; a map of Vietnam; and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is one of the most visited memorials in our nation’s capital, with more than 5.2 million visitors each year. However, many Americans have not been able to visit what has become known to many as “The Wall.” The Wall That Heals made its debut in 1996 and since then has been on display in nearly 600 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the four provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005. Last year alone, more than 250,000 people visited The Wall That Heals. Hosting The Wall That Heals provides a community with a multi-day experience that includes an educational experience for local schools and organizations on the history of the Vietnam era and The Wall.
VVMF coordinates local stops of The Wall That Heals and the accompanying mobile Education Center. The current schedule and more information can be found at www.thewallthatheals.org. The 2018 national The Wall That Heals tour is hauled through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the trucking industry and generously sponsored by USAA, FedEx and GEICO. Local sponsors include the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation and the Town of Wake Forest. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Crystal Carlson at 919-606-0158.
The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 144 individual panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide better readability of The Wall day and night.
The names on The Wall That Heals replicate the names on The Wall in Washington, D.C. As on The Wall, the names are listed alphabetically by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back in to the center/apex.
A new 53-foot trailer transports The Wall That Heals from community to community. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center. This unique educational experience gives visitors a better understanding of the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the collection of items left at The Wall.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF is dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of service in America and educating all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies and education materials.
To learn more about VVMF or to make a donation, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.
