Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center spreads a healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War
The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, along with a mobile Education Center, is coming to the Clinton Township Civic Center, August 5-8. The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day and is free to the public.
Township Supervisor Bob Cannon is proud that Clinton Township is one of only two communities in Michigan to have The Wall That Heals available for area residents to see and experience.
“With The Wall That Heals, we’ve established another tradition in recognizing and honoring our military veterans,” said Cannon. “In 2010 and 2015, we applied for The Wall to come to our community, and we received it. We were approved again to have it return last year but had to wait until now because of the pandemic.”
The Wall That Heals arrives at the Clinton Township Civic Center at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3, with assembly and construction taking place the following day. Tours for the public officially begin on Thursday, August 5, after a Welcome Home ceremony at 10 a.m.
The Wall That Heals, larger than its predecessor from 2015, honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,276 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. The new version stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point and is 375 feet in length. As a result, visitors experience it rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key design feature of The Wall in Washington. Trained staff from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund will be on-site to provide tours of the exhibits and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall That Heals. In addition, visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names.
About The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals is transported in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens into a mobile Education Center with exhibits telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the divisive era in American history.
The Education Center includes digital photo displays of Hometown Heroes, local service members named on The Wall That Heals. Also displayed is an In Memory Honor Roll recognizing Vietnam veterans (through VVMF’s In Memory program) who returned home and died later due to their service. Another display consists of items left at The Wall in D.C., which tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the era surrounding the conflict.
The Wall That Heals tour, generously sponsored by USAA, is transported thousands of miles across the country each year through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the trucking industry.
More than 300,000 people visited The Wall That Heals exhibit in 2019. Since its debut in 1996, the exhibition has traveled to nearly 600 communities in the United States in addition to Ireland and Canada.
The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1982. The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C., and is the largest traveling replica in the country.
About VVMF
The nonprofit Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, DC, in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families.
VVMF’s mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies, and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org, or call 202-393-0090.
The Wall That Heals 2021 Tour dates
New Bern, N.C. April 8–April 11
Charlotte, N.C. April 15–April 18
Ocean Pines, Md. April 22–April 25
Garner, N.C. April 29–May 2
Grundy, Va. May 6–May 9
Tunkhannock, Pa. May 13–May 16
Columbus, Ohio May 28–May 31
Franklin, Ind. June 3–June 6
Harrison, Ohio June 10–June 13
Champlain, N.Y. June 24–June 27
Townsend, Mass. July 1 –July 4
Nahant, Mass. July 15–July 18
Tonawanda, N.Y. July 22–July 25
Athens, Ohio July 29 –August 1
Clinton Twp. Mich. August 5–August 8
Riverview, Mich. August 12–August 15
Rice, Minn. August 19–August 22
Marysville, Kans. August 26–August 31
Brighton, Colo. September 2–September 5
Farmington, N.M. September 9–September 12
Blackfoot, Idaho September 16–September 19
Longview, Wash. September 23 –September 26
La Pine, Ore. September 30–October 3
Corona, Calif. October 7–October 10
Bullhead City, Ariz. October 21–October 24
Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz. October 28–October 31
Sulphur Springs, Tex. November 4–November 7
Murfreesboro, Tenn. November 11–November 14
Your Safety
Please see the letter below regarding The Wall That Heals 2021 season & safety measures to protect workers, visitors and guests against COVID-19.
We are committed to the safety of every visitor and volunteer and will adhere to CDC guidelines for social distancing and expect proper PPE. Please see the letter below from President and CEO of the VVMF, Jim Knotts.
