VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND ANNOUNCES DISPLAY DATES FOR THE WALL THAT HEALS VISIT TO HAWAII IN 2024

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center spreads healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War

Washington, D.C. – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) announced display dates today for The Wall That Heals first-ever visit to the state of Hawaii in 2024. The mobile exhibit will arrive in Hilo, Hawaii (The Big Island) on January 22^nd for set up on the 23^rd and then be on display 24 hours a day from January 24 – until closing at 2:00 p.m. on January 28. The exhibit will then move to the island of Maui and be escorted in on February 7^th, set up on the 8^th and then on display 24 hours a day from February 9 – until closing at 2:00 p.m. on February 13.

The Wall That Heals exhibit includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals will be escorted into each location via a procession of motorcycles and local first responders. The following day, local volunteers will set up the display.

“We are excited to announce these display dates for our first-ever visit to Hawaii. Our planning efforts with the local communities are well underway and they are doing a tremendous job. We look forward to providing a healing experience for local veterans and their families and an educational experience for all visitors,” said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of VVMF.

Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in more than 700 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005. 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 includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall.

The annual tour of The Wall That Heals is generously sponsored by USAA. Through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the trucking industry, and Blue Beacon, the exhibit is able to travel across the country. As non-profit entities, the local host committees and VVMF are seeking opportunities to work with individuals, organizations, and corporations who want to be a part of this unique event.

Annually, more than 100 communities apply for the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals. The full 2024 tour schedule will be available in December.

About The Wall replica 

The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. With the replica at this size, visitors are able to experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.

Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors are able to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The names are listed in order of date of casualty and alphabetically on each day. 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. The first and last casualties are side by side at the apex of the Memorial.

The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 144 individual panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Modern LED lighting from the top of The Wall provides a unique experience for nighttime visitors unlike even The Memorial in Washington D.C.

About the mobile Education Center

The 53-foot-trailer that carries the exhibit opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history.

The mobile Education Center exhibit includes: 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; video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the In Memory plaque; a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. The exhibits tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict, and are designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a historical and cultural context.

About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. 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. To learn more about VVMF and The Wall That Heals, visit www.vvmf.org.

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