VVMF Kicks Off 2021 The Wall That Heals Tour Season
04-05-2021
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Kicks Off 2021 The Wall That Heals Tour Season
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center spreads healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War
For Immediate Release
April 5, 2021
Washington, D.C. – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) kicks off The Wall That Heals 2021 tour this week with the first stop of the season in New Bern, North Carolina. The Wall That Heals exhibit includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. The 26th season of The Wall That Heals will visit 26 communities during the year. 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 58,279 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
“The past year has been challenging for all of us and we’re excited to kick off The Wall That Heals season this week. These communities have worked hard to give a safe opportunity for thousands to experience the healing and educational aspects of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF. “We are ready to provide these communities with the opportunity to honor and remember all those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War and educate visitors on the continuing impact of the Vietnam War on America.”
VVMF has worked closely with each community to make certain that community health and safety protocols are met. Communities have to permit gatherings of 250 or more people. Volunteers are required to wear masks. Visitors will be encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing to safeguard the staff, volunteers and other visitors.
“We recognize state and local officials across the country are beginning to ease or even eliminate COVID-19 restrictions. We’ve based our health and safety standards for our visitors, volunteers and team members on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At times, ours may exceed the standards in place through the local and state health officials. At no time will they ever be more relaxed. We will constantly amend them as further guidance is published. Nothing is more important to VVMF than the health and well-being of our Vietnam veterans and their families. We will work to provide the best visitor experience while keeping the safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors at top of mind,” said Knotts.
The Wall That Heals 2021 Tour dates include:
| New Bern, N.C. | April 8 – April 11 |
| Ocean Pines, Md. | April 22 – April 25 |
| 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 Township, Mich. | August 5 – August 8 |
| Riverview, Mich. | August 12 – August 15 |
| Rice, Minn. | August 19 – August 22 |
| Marysville, Kansas | 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, Oregon | 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, Texas | November 4 – November 7 |
| Murfreesboro, Tenn. | November 11 – November 14 |
Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in nearly 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. More information can be found at: www.thewallthatheals.org.
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. Hosts in each community provide for the location, volunteers, and preparations necessary to replicate the experience a visitor would have at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
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 readability of The Wall at night.
About the mobile Education Center
The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer 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 as a result of their service; 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 VVMF
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 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.
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For more information:
Heidi Zimmerman
202-765-3773
[email protected]