“The display includes photos of the 68 Hometown Heroes of those on The Wall from Alexandria.”

— Exhibit co-chair Cynthia Long

The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, will be on display on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial from June 12-15.

A three-quarters scale replica of The Memorial, the Wall That Heals provides an opportunity to view the exhibit that has been displayed across the country and provides visitors with an expanded experience from The Wall in DC.

“As a result of closures of streets and the National Mall for the military parade on June 14th in Washington, D.C., the largest annual event held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was displaced,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “Fortunately, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial eagerly stepped forward to bring the sanctity and peaceful nature of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the thousands of family and friends gathering to honor their Vietnam veterans.”

The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours a day and is free and open to the public. It 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.

A mobile Education Center features videos on the history of the war and the design competition and building of The Wall. It includes examples of things that were carried by soldiers and will feature a motorcycle tied to an Alexandria Vietnam servicemember.  

“Most importantly the display includes photos of the 68 Hometown Heroes of those on The Wall from Alexandria,” said local hosting committee co-chair Cynthia Long. “Also on display will be photos of the Hometown Heroes from Arlington and Fairfax counties, and Washington, DC.”

The Wall That Heals will open Thursday, June 12 at 2 p.m. and close Sunday, June 15 at 9 p.m.

Special events that will be held at the exhibit include an Agent Orange Awareness candlelight event on Thursday, June 12. Visitors will see the replica Wall and In Memory plaque lit in orange candlelight to bring light to the effects of Agent Orange exposure on our nation’s Vietnam veterans.

On Saturday, June 14, the annual In Memory ceremony will be held honoring a record high 774 Vietnam veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died.

On Sunday, June 15, the annual Father’s Day Rose Remembrance will be held at The Wall That Heals. Visitors can sponsor roses in advance and lay them at the replica Wall and In Memory plaque to honor and remember fathers who served in Vietnam and those that never had the chance to become fathers. Red roses are for those who died in Vietnam, yellow for those who are unaccounted for and white for those who returned home but later died.

Visitors will be able to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. It will be set upon the grassy knoll overlooking the National Masonic Memorial.

For the 11th year, USAA is the presenting sponsor for the national tour.

“Hosting the exhibit requires the equipment and resources to support the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of visitors across the four days,” Long said. “We’re optimistic local businesses and organizations will reach out to us to see how they can help us through in-kind or financial support.”

For more information or to volunteer or donate, visit: www.vvmf.org/the-wall-that-heals-alexandria.