“The Wall That Heals” is in Covington

COVINGTON, Va. (WFXR) — It was nearly a year in the making, the City of Covington getting a chance to honor the men and the women who served and made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War era. The Wall That Heals…..which is a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall… gives Vietnam Veterans a chance to see the wall up close and personal… without going to Washington, D.C.

“The motivation was I remember and I came home from the Persian Gulf and my father and family are there and I see him on the pier and I’m looking and saying. Where were you when he came home and they never got it. That’s just bothered me in throughout the years, I kept trying to find a way to honor him and the other Vietnam veterans that never got the homecoming that they so deserved,” said VFW Post 1033 Commander Shawn Wright.

That was the motivation for Wright. With Wright’s effort and the drive of the Alleghany Highlands community the dream is a reality. Not only is the Wall That Heals in place, there is a mobile education center which educates visitors about the Vietnam War. The Wall That Heals —which is 375 feet in length and bears the names of more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam—is transported from community to community. It has been around since 1996. The tribute honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Veterans there as well as their families appreciate the opportunity to see the replica wall.

“It’s really great to be here. I mean we are really fortunate to have something this magnitude come to our community and it speaks well of all the people that’s here today came out and it’s just a tribute to the veterans and my opinion,” said Vietnam Veteran and Marine Veteran Ted Wilhelm.

“That is what we are here for it is to help those Vietnam Veterans let go and open up share and move on do not do they’re not by themselves,” said Wright.

The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours a day through Sunday at the Jackson River Sports Complex in Covington.

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