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The Wall That Heals is returning to southwest Michigan to honor Vietnam veterans.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center will parade through Galesburg Tuesday, traveling to Harper Creek High School in Emmett Township, where it will be on display 24 hours a day from July 14 until closing ceremonies July 17.
“This event is a special opportunity to show our support for the military,” retired Brig. Gen. Robert Secrist, co-chairperson of the event, said in a release. “This event is a unique occasion to thank Vietnam veterans for their service and sacrifices during the Vietnam War and for their suffering since then.”
The three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a historical and cultural context. Also called The Wall That Heals, it was started in 1996 by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and last visited the Battle Creek area in 2012.
The synthetic granite replica has 140 numbered panels supported by an aluminum frame, and features machine engraving of more than 58,000 names, along with LED lighting to provide 24-hour readability. Using a 53-foot tractor-trailer, the mobile exhibit converts into a education center at each stop, showcasing letters and memorabilia left at the original wall on the National Mall in Washington.
