The replica of the Viet Nam Memorial Wall in our nation’s capital will be in New Boston this week and is sure to be something that all want to take time to see.
The “Moving Wall” will be open to visit in New Boston starting about noon tomorrow, Thursday, September 4 and will remain open for visitors around the clock through Monday, September 8 at 4 p.m. The exhibit will be open 24/7 during this period with volunteers present to help visitors find a name or just be there for a visitor’s helping hand.
“The Moving Wall™” is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for forty plus years! When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington D.C., he felt the positive power of “The Wall.” He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington.
John, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Moving Wall™, as an exact replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October of 1984.
Two complete structures of The Moving Wall™ now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each site.
This replica allows people who’ve never had a chance to get to Washington, DC to finally see a loved one’s name. Visitors are able to find any name they desire, touch the Wall and do a “Rubbing” of the name that’s etched in the Wall. Over the years that ability to preserve someone’s name has always been a very somber, yet positive method of closure for friends and relatives alike.
The sheer size of this Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is overwhelming for some. It’s almost as long as a football field (252.8 feet). As you first enter the display area grounds it provides an immediate sense of just how large it is. It has over 58,000 names etched into the panels. There are 74 separate panels that make up this beautiful traveling wall.
The names are arranged in chronological order of their death, starting at the center of the panels. We always have volunteers available to walk with visitors as they start out on their journey to see a family or friend’s name etched in the wall. If the person was an early casualty, they will need to walk to the center area of the entire display and that can be a very long and somber walk. Many of our volunteers are Vietnam War survivors, veterans and family members that just want to help others achieve some closure.
The exhibit is Sponsored by the New Boston Chamber of Commerce with an outpouring of city, veteran groups, volunteer organizations and community businesses helping to make this somber occasion possible.
If you would like to volunteer or need more information, please check the New Boston Chamber of Commerce website or Facebook page.
