The Vietnam Veteran Memorial Fund has used a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial for families to find healing and now that wall is headed to Jackson County.

The American Legion Post 89 in Seymour, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925 in Seymour and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1083 in Crothersville are the driving forces working together to bring the replica wall to the county from Aug. 10 to 13.

The Wall That Heals will be escorted by parade on Aug. 8 from Seymour to the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Brownstown.

“We are wanting all Vietnam Veterans and the community to have the opportunity to experience this memorial,” Toni Allen said. Allen is the chairwoman of the county committee of “The Wall that Heals.”

On Veterans Day in 1996, the replica of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington D.C. was unveiled for the first time. Its purpose was and still is, help families begin the healing process of those they have lost, calling it “The Wall that Heals.”

The wall not only provides the opportunity for healing among families, but the traveling exhibit allows community members to experience peace and comfort in familiar surroundings.

This opportunity provides many veterans who have been unable to cope with the idea of facing The Wall to find courage among those in their community to do so, finally allowing the healing process to start.

Since its dedication, the wall has been displayed in nearly 700 communities across the nation.

According to the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Fund’s website, in 2021 the exhibit traveled for more than 13,000 miles and visited 26 communities from coast to coast. The exhibit was escorted by more than 3,000 vehicles into many of those communities and was able to spread its legacy to nearly 200,000 visitors. Guided tours of the exhibit also were provided to more than 12,000 students.

The exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica that 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 toward the apex, a key feature of the design of the original memorial in D.C.

Much like the original, the replica is built in a chevron-shape and visitors are allowed to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.

The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame with more than 58,000 names engraved along The Wall. The Wall also comes with modern LED lighting to provide readability around the clock.

The names on the replica are listed by day of casualty as on the original memorial. Beginning at the center apex, the names start on the East Wall, right hand side, working its way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall, left hand side, and working its way back in to the center apex, joining the beginning and end of the conflict in the center.

The replica also comes with a mobile education center. The 53-foot trailer that carries the replica Wall transforms into the education center featuring a timeline of “The War and The Wall” while also providing additional information about the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington D.C.

Many other displays will be included in the education center, but one in particular will feature photos of service members on The Wall who list their hometown of record from the area where it is set up at the time.

Not only are there many Vietnam veterans in the community, but Allen said there are many amongst their organizations as well whoe would like to see The Wall.

“Within our different organizations working to bring the wall, we have many Vietnam veterans,” Allen said.

As of now, these organizations are still raising money to cover the $11,000 sponsoring cost for the “Wall That Heals.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization have conducted various fundraisers within their organizations including bake sales.

The American Legion has been serving breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday and will continue to do so until August. All of the proceeds will be used to cover the cost of bringing the “Wall That Heals” to Jackson County.

“The committee is well on its way to paying for this amazing opportunity, and we will make sure this happens,” Allen said.

The American Legion is still looking for donations and volunteers to help with set up, operation, and take-down of the display to make this event a success.

Donations can be mailed to Jackson County Wall That Heals C/O JCB Trust Dept, PO Box 1001, Seymour, IN 47274.

For more information or questions about volunteering please call 812-524-1617.

Truck drivers or trucking companies also can do their part in bringing The Wall to different communities by submitting an application to haul The Wall.