The Wall That Heals is Coming to Delaware Ohio
Despite coming to a halt in 1975, the Vietnam War continues to tenaciously grip communities throughout the United States, where keeping the memory of fallen soldiers is a monumental mission.
Primarily galvanized by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, men and women killed in the Vietnam War are honored by The Wall That Heals, a 3/4th replica of Washington D.C’s Vietnam Memorial.
Proudly featuring 58,000 names, this exhibit travels all throughout the country to accommodate many with closure, an emotion that Site Manager Elaine Koontz understands well. Koontz comments about her experience during her service to the memorial fund.
“Healing to those Vietnam veterans who were treated horribly when they arrived home from their service, healing to the families that have experienced suffering and loss, and healing for our Nation’s history.”
The Wall That Heals is accompanied and enhanced by a mobile education center, featuring an intricate timeline and snapshot of the Vietnam War. The other side reveals a display case presenting items left at the wall, including a care package a soldier never received from his mother, handwritten letters, family photos, a baseball mitt, and many more.
“Our goal,” Koontz relays, “is to educate the country and our younger generations so that no veterans will ever be treated as our Vietnam veterans were terribly treated.”
Whether it be veterans visiting the names of their fallen friends, families who have lost loved ones, or simply those who wish to pay their respects, The Wall That Heals is open admission for the community as a whole.
This event is making its only stop in Ohio in Havener Park, Delaware County, September 12-15, open 24/7. To ensure The Wall That Heals’s continued success, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is looking for volunteers in the area willing to devote their time to a range of tasks including wall setup, manning the refreshment station, and assisting visitors. If interested in volunteering, do not hesitate to click the link below. Volunteer training is held on-site at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11.
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