The Wall That Heals, a traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, opened to the public Thursday (June 12) at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, marking a rare opportunity for local residents to experience the memorial outside its usual touring schedule.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) relocated several of its annual ceremonies from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to Alexandria due to logistical challenges posed by the scheduled military parade.
“When it became clear that the logistics of the parade on Saturday would prevent us from getting all of our guests for our Saturday event over to the wall as we normally would, we knew that we needed to have a different location,” explained Jim Knotts, VVMF president.
The Wall That Heals typically visits over 30 communities annually, but this special appearance in Alexandria represents an unusual addition to its schedule.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins welcomed the memorial to the city, noting its significance for the community.
“On behalf of the Alexandria City Council, I really want to share how deeply honored and humbled we are to be able to host the Wall That Heals,” Gaskins said. “More than 80 volunteers came together, including some Alexandrians, to make this happen.”
The memorial bears the names of 58,281 service members who died during the Vietnam War, including more than 60 Alexandrians.
“I hope to be able to come back this weekend to learn more about the stories of the more than 60 Alexandrians who served and died in the war and whose names are on this wall,” Gaskins added.
Setting up the memorial proved challenging, with volunteers carrying each panel by hand from the trailer up a hill to the memorial site.
“Every single panel was carried by hand from the trailer down the hill up here. So not only was it a heavy carry, it was the longest carry I think we’ve ever done with the Wall That Heals. And it was uphill,” Knotts said.
Shawn Eyer, Managing Director of Communications and Education at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, noted the historical significance of the site where the wall now stands.
“Today, the Wall That Heals rests partially on that historic ground connecting Vietnam sacrifices to the Civil War’s fight for a united nation,” Eyer said, referring to the site of Fort Ellsworth, a key Civil War fortification that once stood on the memorial grounds.
John Woods, a decorated and wounded Vietnam veteran who helped create the VVMF, delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony.
“While we’re not on the National Mall, we have brought our three-quarter scale replica that we call the Wall That Heals and the replica of the In Memory plaque,” Woods said. “Wherever we set up the Wall That Heals becomes hallowed ground.”
Woods emphasized the memorial’s focus on veterans rather than the war itself.
“The memorial is called the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, not the Vietnam War Memorial. It was never meant to remember or glorify war, but rather honor and remember the veterans who fought,” he said.
The four-day exhibition includes several special events. An Agent Orange Awareness candlelight event takes place tonight at 9 p.m., with orange candlelight illuminating the wall to highlight the effects of Agent Orange exposure on Vietnam veterans.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., the annual In Memory ceremony honors 774 Vietnam veterans who returned home from Vietnam but later died. More than 2,000 attendees are expected for this event alone.
Sunday features a Father’s Day Rose Remembrance from 10 a.m. to noon, during which roses will be laid at the Wall That Heals and the In Memory plaque. A closing ceremony concludes the exhibition at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Wall That Heals remains open 24 hours a day during its stay in Alexandria, offering free admission to all visitors. The exhibition coincides with several events marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
“While it sometimes seems we are a nation divided again today, remember that we always have things that bring us together like a purpose for being here this weekend to honor our Vietnam veterans,” Woods said.
For more information about the Wall That Heals or to volunteer, visit www.vvmf.org/the-wall-that-heals-alexandria.
