Neighbors,
The Vietnam War defined a generation and changed the lives of millions; not just those who fought in the war, but their families, their friends. As you know, when veterans returned home after serving they often did not return to the hero’s welcome they deserved; instead, they returned to communities that were often conflicted – or downright hostile – about our involvement.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington has helped heal some of those wounds by remembering and honoring those who served, and now you have an opportunity to view a traveling replica of it right here in the Twin Cities.
The Wall That Heals is a brand new, three-quarters scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. From June 21 through June 24, The Wall will be at the state capitol. The visit is part of an initiative launched by TPT and PBS stations of Minnesota called Minnesota Remembers Vietnam. This project is designed to amplify the stories of veterans who served in Vietnam through community events, documentary films, and educational resources.
This traveling memorial will give every veteran who has been working to muster up the strength to visit the memorial in Washington an opportunity to begin the healing process in their own community.
In addition to the Wall, there will be a number of other exhibits such as a 53-foot mobile education center, with a timeline and additional information about the war; a Huey Helicopter, which was used by 10,000 members of the Armed Forces; a military museum exhibit, where attendees can see artifacts that soldiers carried; documentary screenings; and much more.
This is a public memorial, so I hope you will be able to attend an event. I will be speaking at the opening ceremony, but the full schedule is as follows:
THURSDAY JUNE 21
9 am | Opening Ceremony hosted by Don Shelby (Veteran Service Building Stage)
10 am |Reading of the Names of Minnesota’s fallen (Veteran Service Building Stage)
5 pm | Literature on the War community discussion (The Armory)
6 pm | America’s Secret War Screening and discussion (The Armory)
8:30 pm | Taps (Veteran Service Building Stage)
FRIDAY JUNE 22
10 am | Reading of the Names of Minnesota’s fallen (Veteran Service Building Stage)
4 pm | An Open Forum for Veterans by Veterans (The Armory)
6 pm | Perspectives Screening and discussion (The Armory)
8:30 pm | Taps (Veteran Service Building Stage)
SATURDAY JUNE 23
10 am | Reading of the Names of Minnesota’s fallen (Veteran Service Building Stage)
4 pm | Public Commemoration & Flyover (Veteran Service Building Stage)
8:30 pm | Taps (Veteran Service Building Stage)
7-9 pm | Minnesota Remembers Vietnam: EPILOGUE; Hosted by Kevin Kling and Cathy Wurzer, with music provided by J.D. Steele and the MacPhail Center for Music).
SUNDAY JUNE 24
11 am | Beyond the Divide Screening with filmmaker Jan Selby (The Armory)
1 pm | Closing Ceremony (Veteran Service Building Stage)
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or visit MNVietnam.org/Wall
Sincerely,