Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center spreads the healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War
As the nation begins the yearlong recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, is coming to Hawaiian Gardens, CA from 3/23/2023 to 3/26/2023 at Fedde Middle School. The exhibit is put on in conjunction with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public. The event concludes Sunday, March 26th at 2 pm.
“The memorial wall is a somber reminder. It honors over 3 million Americans who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. It carries the names of over 58,000 service members who were killed. Each name on the wall represents the ultimate sacrifice of the men and women who did what our country asked of them. There is a saying that a man does not die until he is forgotten. The Vietnam Memorial Wall That Heals is a monument to ensure we will never forget,” said Luis Roa, Mayor of Hawaiian Gardens.
The Wall That Heals exhibit includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. 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 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. March 29 marks the 50th anniversary of the removal of our combat troops from Vietnam. This milestone and the 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War are prominent in our nation’s and Vietnam veterans’ collective memory.
“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is pleased to bring The Wall That Heals mobile exhibit to Hawaiian Gardens to allow local veterans and their family members a chance to experience The Wall,” said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF). Hosting The Wall That Heals provides an 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.”
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 Wall replica is 375 feet long and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a vital feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members’ names on The Wall.
The Wall That Heals is coming to Hawaiian Gardens, CA from 3/23/2023 to 3/26/2023 at Fedde Middle School and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public. The address is 21409 Elaine Ave, Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716. For more details click here.
What to know before you visit:
- The Wall and mobile Education Center will be open 24 hours a day.
- Parking is free and located on-site. Handicap parking and assistance for Veterans is also available.
- Visitors can view the exhibit at their own pace.
- Children are welcome.
- No dogs or pets are allowed except for service animals.
- There are NO concessions or souvenirs for purchase.
USAA generously sponsors the Wall That Heals. 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 a visitor’s experience at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.
Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in more than 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
