The Wall That Heals: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
By Teresa Ambord
"...this memorial is for those who have died, and for us to remember them." - Maya Ying Lin, designer, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial (VVM) was a long time coming. Made of fine black granite, the memorial is a wall that runs 493 and1/2 feet long, and stands in order to recognize those who served in what was a profoundly divisive war. The Vietnam War left America with deep chasms, morally and politically. Our soldiers, men and women, returned home disillusioned, confused, and weary. Many were greeted not with gratitude for their service, but with ridicule from war protestors.
The VVM seeks to heal those wounds. Yet, the VVM was built to make no political statement at all. Political gain is not the point. It is no more or less than a way to thank all those who went to Vietnam, to remember those who died there, and to lift the heads of those who served and returned to us. It is a pathway for reconciliation.
The Traveling Wall
The original wall was built and dedicated in 1982. And on Veteran's Day, 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund dedicated a traveling Vietnam Wall. It's a half-scale replica of the original. The traveling wall visits cities and towns throughout the country, allowing veterans and the families of those killed to find the peace and comfort that the exhibit can bring, without leaving their communities. Since its dedication the traveling wall, aka, The Wall That Heals, has made stops in more than 150 cities. In addition, in 1999 the Wall visited four provinces of Ireland to honor the Irish-born and the Irish-American who served.
The site managers of the wall are a couple named John and Linda Anderson. John served in Vietnam as a Combat Medic, for F Troop/8th Cavalry American Division. Soon after he returned, he and Linda were married. Now, many years later, they travel coast to coast as the guardians of The Wall That Heals. The Wall is 250 feet long and includes a traveling museum.
