The Dare County Veterans Advisory Council will host “The Wall That Heals”—a traveling, three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that tours the country along with an accompanying mobile education center—in Dare County in November.
Honoring the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, “The Wall That Heals”—which is 375 feet in length and bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam—is transported from community to community via a 53-foot trailer.
When parked, the trailer opens up to showcase a variety of exhibits, allowing it to serve as a mobile education center that tells the story of the Vietnam War.
The free exhibit will be open to the public 24 hours a day from Nov. 16 through 19 at the Soundside Event Site, 6800 South Croatan Highway in Nags Head.
“The Wall That Heals” provides an opportunity for local veterans, residents and visitors to remember and honor those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War—and to educate them about the continuing impacts of the conflict on our country.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to create a name rubbing of individual service members’ names on the wall when they visit the exhibit.
The wall not only honors the veterans who served and died during the Vietnam War but also teaches and informs about the war and the sacrifices our soldiers made for our country, said Dare County Veterans Services Officer Patty O’Sullivan.
“Some gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, and some veterans that were able to come home suffer with the impact of injuries sustained during their service, the effects of toxin exposure, as well as PTSD,” she said. “We wanted to give veterans and their families that may be unable to travel to Washington, D.C., the opportunity to see the wall in person.”
The Veterans Advisory Council is seeking financial support from businesses and individuals to help cover the costs of bringing the wall to the Outer Banks.
Tax deductible donations can be made online through Interfaith Community Outreach, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is collaborating with the Veterans Advisory Council to bring the wall here.
For information about the wall, donating and the various sponsorship levels that are available, please visit www.DareNC.gov/Wall.
Donations can also be submitted by mail to the Dare County Motorsports Charity Group, which is Dare County’s fundraising partner for this event. Please make checks payable to the Dare County Motorsports Charity Group and mail them to P.O. Box 999, Nags Head, NC 27959. Be sure to include “The Wall That Heals” in the check memo.
Numerous volunteers will be needed to help assemble the wall when it arrives, to work at the event site during its stay in Dare County, and later disassembling the wall.
To volunteer, contact O’Sullivan by email at Patricia.O’Sullivan@DareNC.gov or by phone at 252-475-5604 (office) or 252-473-7749 (cell).
Those interested in volunteering may also contact Dare County Veterans Advisory Council Secretary Marsha Brown at GiglineHeroes@aol.com or 252-202-2058.
