2023 Tour Schedule Host The Wall That Heals Haul The Wall That Heals
On Veterans Day 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) unveiled a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., designed to travel to communities throughout the United States. Since its dedication, The Wall That Heals has been displayed at nearly 700 communities throughout the nation, spreading the Memorial’s healing legacy to millions.
Bringing The Wall home to communities throughout our country allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist once more among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings. The traveling exhibit provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin.
The main components of The Wall That Heals are The Wall replica and the mobile Education Center.
The Wall That Heals exhibit was on the road for more than 13,000 miles and visited 26 communities from coast to coast during its 2021 season. We were escorted by more than 3,000 vehicles into those communities, and we were able to spread The Wall’s healing legacy to nearly 200,000 visitors. Guided tours of the exhibit were provided to more than 12,000 students.
The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors 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 can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.
As on The Wall, the names on The Wall That Heals are listed 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, joining the beginning and end of the conflict at the center.
The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms to become a mobile Education Center. The exterior of the trailer features a timeline of “The War and The Wall” and provides additional information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Additional exhibits give visitors a better understanding of the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the collection of items left at The Wall.
Displays include:
Hometown Heroes – Photos of service members on The Wall who list their home of record from the local area. The photos are part of The Wall of Faces, an effort to put a face to every name inscribed on The Wall in Washington, D.C.
In Memory Honor Roll – Photos of local Vietnam veterans honored through VVMF’s In Memory program, which honors veterans who returned home and later died. Digital photos are of In Memory honorees from the state where the exhibit is on display.
A replica of the In Memory plaque that resides on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Washington, D.C. and reads: “In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.”
Items Left Behind – Displays of items representative of those left at The Wall in Washington, D.C. in remembrance of those on The Wall. Watch below as VVMF’s Education Director, Callie Wright, speaks with students about a care package that is part of the exhibit. Learn about the items on display with The Wall That Heals exhibit by clicking here.
- Map of Vietnam
- Timeline of the War and The Wall
- The Gold Star Bike – Donated to VVMF by the American Gold Star Mothers in 2012, the bike is a Softail Custom Harley that pays tribute to the mothers who lost sons to the Vietnam War.
Watch this video to see the unique visitor experience at The Wall That Heals.
The Wall That Heals Tour shirts for the 2023 Tour are now available! We proudly offer this American made shirt in select colors, with both long and short sleeve options. All orders must be placed before October 3, 2023.
A couple of important notes:
- Each shirt sale fundraising campaign will have set dates open for ordering shirts, beginning on the opening date and orders will be collected until the closing date. Shirt orders will be printed after the campaign closes.
- All shirts will be shipped out at one time after the sale closing date with an estimated shipping date of approximately two to three weeks after the closing date of the sale.
- No shirts will be sold at The Wall That Heals sites. You must purchase your shirt as part of this fundraising campaign.
- All proceeds from the shirts benefit VVMF’s programs like The Wall That Heals.
All shirts will be printed and shipped directly to you after the campaign closes. Please check the email provided during your order for shipping updates from Custom Ink. If you do not receive your order or shipping confirmation after 3 weeks of the close of the sale, please contact Custom Ink’s customer service at 1-800-293-4232.
With special thanks to our generous sponsors:
