The Wall That Heals
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scheduled to Visit Johns Creek. (Video)
"SPECIAL ROOM RATES"
Hyatt Place in Johns Creek is extending a special room rate deal on single and double occupancy rooms from 27 March - 5 April 2017 for those attending any of the veteran related activities in Johns Creek. Those rates apply if they register via the following link
The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile Education Center, is scheduled to visit the City of Johns Creek March 30 – April 2 at Newtown Park.
The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces during the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
Hosting The Wall That Heals provides a community with a multi-day experience of reflection that includes an educational experience for local schools and organizations on the history of the Vietnam era and The Wall.
“We are both very honored and excited about the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals in Johns Creek,” said Mayor Mike Bodker. “We will never be able to repay those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country; however, we can keep their memory alive and demonstrate our deep respect and gratitude by visiting the memorial, reflecting on the names listed on The Wall, and learning more about the Vietnam era.”
This is the first of only two stops in Georgia that The Wall will make in 2017, and it will be open 24-hours a day and free to the public. The second visit will take place in Meter, Georgia.
This special visit was made possible by the Knights of Columbus Assembly of St. Brigid Catholic Church, who originated the request on behalf of the City of Johns Creek and the Johns Creek Veterans Association.
The Wall will be escorted into the City by the Patriot Guard Riders, which is a motor cycle riders non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring dignity and respect at memorial services honoring fallen military veterans and first responders.
The exhibit includes The Wall replica and a mobile Education Center that comprises digital displays of photos of service members whose names are on The Wall; letters and memorabilia left at The Wall by visitors; a map of Vietnam; and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War.
The exhibits tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the era surrounding the conflict, and are designed to place American experiences in Vietnam in an historical and cultural context.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is one of the most visited memorials in our nation’s capital, with more than 5.6 million visitors each year. However, many Americans have not been able to visit what has become known to many as “The Wall.” The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), the organization that built The Wall in 1982, wants to provide all veterans, their family members, and the general public across America an opportunity to visit the memorial.
“Taking The Wall That Heals on the road gives thousands more veterans and their family members an opportunity to see The Wall and honor those who have served and sacrificed so much,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF. “It helps veterans from all of America’s conflicts to find healing and a powerful connection through their common military experiences.”
More than 200,000 people visited The Wall That Heals in 2016. Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in nearly 500 U.S. communities, as well as internationally during an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland, and a visit to Canada in 2005.
VVMF coordinates local stops of The Wall That Heals and the accompanying mobile Education Center. The current schedule and more information can be found at: www.thewallthatheals.org.
The 2017 national The Wall That Heals tour is transported through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and generously sponsored by USAA, PBS, and GEICO. Local sponsorship was made possible by the City of Johns Creek, the Knights of Columbus Assembly of St. Brigid Catholic Church, and the Johns Creek Veterans Association.
About the half-scale replica of the memorial
The replica Wall is approximately 250 feet in length, and like the original memorial is erected in a chevron-shape. The replica is constructed of powder-coated aluminum, supported by an aluminum frame, and is made up of 24 individual panels, each containing six columns of names.
The names on The Wall That Heals replicate the names on The Wall in Washington, D.C. As on The Wall, the names are listed alphabetically by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back to the center/apex. Thus, the beginning and ending of the conflict are joined at the center, signifying an epoch in American history.
About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall
VVMF is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF is dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of service in America and educating all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and its associated era through programs, ceremonies and education materials.
Three decades after building The Wall, the mission continues as VVMF raises funds to build the Education Center at The Wall in Washington, D.C. The Center will be an interactive learning facility on the National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
The Education Center will feature the faces and stories of the more than 58,000 men and women on The Wall and honor America's legacy of service, including those serving in our nation's Armed Forces today. Time Warner is the Lead Gift Benefactor in the campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall. To learn more about VVMF and the future Education Center at The Wall, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.