The Wall That Heals: Connecting Vietnam Veterans and Youth
HUNTSVILLE, AL – October 2018
I fell in love with my Country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s.
I loved it for its decency, for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people.
I loved it because it was not just a place but an idea, a cause worth fighting for.
I was never the same again; I wasn’t my own man anymore; I was my Country’s.”
– a Vietnam POW
Every generation takes its turn re-learning about war and the lessons of the past. We learn what it means to be human and conflicted, to be American, and to live in a complex political world. Most of all, we hope that today’s young people will recognize that the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces are the honorable and costly price of freedom.
2,709,918 American Soldiers fought in Vietnam, and those who came home carried the memory of it in myriad ways. Many of them continue to make our country safe into the 21st century.
Photo by DLG Photography
As such, INTUITIVE has chosen to be the presenting sponsor of The Wall That Heals, a mobile replica exhibit of the permanent Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington D.C., set to visit Huntsville this November. The exhibit will bring together veterans and young people in a hallowed environment for unique historical perspective. As an organization, we believe it is important to honor the fallen and to introduce our young people to the Vietnam Veterans in their communities. John Perry, INTUITIVE employee and Vietnam Veteran, commented, “It’s important that we educate our young people about the lasting impact of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was one of the most divisive times in our Country’s history, which makes it difficult for educators to teach and for young students to grasp. Having The Wall That Heals here in Huntsville is the perfect opportunity to not only honor the fallen, but also to educate the community, young and old, about these veterans. What better way to learn about them than from the Soldiers themselves who experienced this war.”
Because education is an investment in the future, it is essential that education involve addressing consequences of prolonged war. By bridging these generational gaps, we believe recounting history can be a powerful tool in equipping another generation to face the challenges of tomorrow.
The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and bears the names of 58,318 men and women who died there. The replica Wall is approximately 375 feet in length, and like the original memorial, is erected in a chevron-shape.
Just as on the original, the names are listed alphabetically by day of casualty. Beginning at the center and apex of 7.5 feet, 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. Thus, the beginning and ending of the conflict are joined at the center, signifying a unique epoch in our history.
In addition to The Wall, a mobile education center will be on site to further educate visitors. We encourage youth in the community to visit The Wall That Heals mobile education center to learn more about the lasting impact of the Vietnam War.
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 effort to put a face to every name on The Wall and for the Wall of Faces.
- Map of Vietnam.
- In Memory Honor Roll – Photos of local Vietnam Veterans honored through Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund ‘s In Memory program, which honors veterans who returned home and later died of Vietnam-related illnesses.
- A display of items representative of those left at The Wall in Washington, D.C. in remembrance of those on The Wall.
- Digital kiosk allows visitors to search for names using VVMF’s Wall of Faces.
- Two paper directories allow for names to be found alphabetically.
- 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.
We recommend this field trip guide for parents and educators who would like to enrich the experience for young students. The VVMF also provides teachers with educational materials including a high school-based curriculum for the 2018-2019 school year available at http://twth-hsv.com/educators/.
This free curriculum comes complete with background readings, in-class and extension activities tied to national learning standards, and lecture presentations incorporating primary source audio and video that can be presented in the classroom.
You can visit The Wall That Heals at the John Hunt Park Fairgrounds Nov. 1-4. It will be open 24 hours a day and is free to the public. The Wall is hosted by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1067 of Huntsville and the event is made possible by many city and private contributions. For more information about our dedication to United States veterans, please click here.