Wall That Heals Coming To Sulphur Springs

THE WALL THAT HEALS IS COMING TO SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
ON NOVEMBER 4-7, 2021

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center
spreads healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War.

SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS – The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. It is coming to Sulphur Springs on November 4-7, 2021, at the Sulphur Springs High School Track and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public. The Wall That Heals honors the
more than three million Americans served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,279 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

“We are beyond excited to have been chosen as one of only 28 sites all across the nation to host The Wall That Heals in 2021, and the only site chosen in Texas,” said Mandy Kennedy, Hopkins County Veterans Memorial Committee. “We began the information gathering and
planning stages of the application process last fall of 2019 in the hope that they would choose us to host The VVM Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center here in Hopkins County sometime in the future. It’s unbelievable that they selected us on our first attempt and that they gave us our first choice of dates, November 4-7, 2021, right before Veteran’s Day.”

“The Hopkins County Veterans Memorial, the Sulphur Springs Independent School District, and the City of Sulphur Springs in a partnership are sponsoring the Wall That Heals to recognize our Veterans of the Vietnam War. It offers our community’s grateful
appreciation for their service during a difficult time in our nation’s history. How fitting that we have this opportunity so many years later to commemorate the sacrifices they made by hosting this beautiful exhibit in their honor.”

“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is pleased to bring The Wall That Heals mobile exhibit to Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County to allow local veterans and their family members a chance to experience The Wall. We will work carefully with the host to provide a safe opportunity for the community to experience the healing and educational aspects
of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF.

“Hosting The Wall That Heals provides an opportunity to honor and remember all those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War and educate visitors on the continuing impact of the Vietnam War on America.”

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we require volunteers to wear masks. Visitors will be encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing to safeguard the staff, volunteers, and other visitors.

“Nothing is more important to VVMF than the health and well-being of our Vietnam veterans and their families. We will work closely with the host to make certain that all health and that we meet safety protocols to provide the best visitor experience while keeping the safety
of our staff, volunteers and visitors at the top of mind,” said Knotts.

A 53-foot trailer transports The Wall That Heals from community to community. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the divisive era in American history.

The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a vital feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.

The mobile Education Center exhibit includes: digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes,” service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo displays of Vietnam veterans from the local site honored
through VVMF’s In Memory program, which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service; video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; educational exhibits told through items representative of those that people left at The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the In-Memory plaque; a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. The exhibits tell the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the era surrounding the conflict, and they designed it to put American experiences in Vietnam in a historical and cultural context.

USAA generously sponsors the 2021 national The Wall That Heals tour. Through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the trucking industry, and Blue Beacon, the exhibit can travel across the country. Hopkins County Veterans Memorial Committee, Sulphur Springs Independent School District, and the City of Sulphur Springs are local sponsors.

Since its debut in 1996, the Wall That Heals has toured nearly 700 U.S. communities. In addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and Canada’s visit in 2005.

The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1982. The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C., and includes the largest Wall replica that
travels the country. Two VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall. There is more information at www.thewallthatheals.org.

About VVMF
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C., in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s
mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies, and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.