Photos courtesy of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
A traveling Vietnam War Memorial comes to north Georgia.
After the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the hardships local residents endured in its aftermath, they might feel more grateful than usual during this season of thanksgiving.
Perhaps one meaningful way for people to count their blessings and enjoy a time of reflection would be a daytrip to Dahlonega to see The Wall That Heals. This three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War.
The Wall bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the conflict, and it will be on display from Thursday, October 31 until Sunday, November 3.
Activities in Dahlonega will include an In Memory Program and Agent Orange Awareness Ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, November 1 and a closing ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on the final day.
The Wall
Visitors can make rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall, which is 375 feet long and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Machine engraving of the names, along with LED lighting, provide readability of The Wall day and night.
Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals, which features 140 numbered panels, is erected in a chevron-shape and lists the names by day of casualty.
The Mobile Education Center
The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals also transforms into a mobile Education Center, which tells the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall itself and the divisive era in American history.
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.
Hometown Heroes features 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.
The In Memory Honor Roll includes photos of local Vietnam veterans honored through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory program, which honors the service members 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., 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.”
The Items Left Behind display features remembrances representative of those left at the Memorial in Washington, D.C., in honor of those on The Wall.
Since The Wall began touring in 1996, it has been on display in more than 700 communities nationwide.
If You Go:
What: The Wall That Heals
When: Thursday, October 31 – Sunday, November 3; open 24 hours a day
Where: University of North Georgia, Dahlonega
How Much: Free
More Info: vvmf.org
