By Travis Perkins

On Veterans Day 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) unveiled a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., designed to travel to communities throughout the United States. Since its dedication, The Wall That Heals has been displayed at nearly 800 communities throughout the nation. 
 
The mobile memorial is 375 feet long and 7 and a half feet high at its tallest point. The memorial honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam War and bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. In addition to The Wall, the exhibit includes a mobile education center, which features photos of servicemembers whose names are on The Wall, a map of Vietnam, a chronological overview of the war, and more. 
 
Over the years, several American Legion posts and Auxiliary units have hosted the mobile memorial, including American Legion Auxiliary Unit 48 in Iowa, along with The American Legion Family, Main Street Nevada, Iowa, and fellow community leaders at a local park in their community. The mobile memorial and education center were on display 24 hours a day and allowed locals to honor servicemembers and gave those who are unable to travel to D.C. an opportunity to see a replica of The Wall and learn about the memorial.
 
“More than 10,000 guests were greeted, helped, and comforted by those who came together to pay tribute to the more than 58,000 servicemen and women who died in the Vietnam War,” said ALA Unit 48 member Cathy Vincent. “We paid tribute not just to those who died in the Vietnam War, but we also found ways to recognize all servicemembers in our community.”
 
Vincent said Legion Family members served as boots on the ground to find local servicemembers who could be featured in the mobile education center’s In Memory exhibit, a digital display that honors those who returned home from Vietnam and later suffered from causes related to their service, including Agent Orange exposure and PTSD/suicide. 
 
American Legion Family members were involved in planning special ceremonies, recruiting and managing volunteers, facilitating community education tours, providing food for volunteers, and helping with logistics. Members of The American Legion Riders also participated in a motorcycle procession alongside the semitruck carrying the exhibit as it came into town.  
 
Tips for serving as a host site
 
Form a planning committee: Establish a dedicated committee to manage the entire planning process and oversee the display. Work with the VVMF, community partners, and organizations that can help with the planning and execution.
 
Secure the venue and coordinate logistics: Arrange for a public site that will be accessible 24 hours a day, with no admission fee. According to the VVMF, the organization seeks host site locations that can provide a welcoming, quiet atmosphere large enough to accommodate both The Wall replica and the mobile education center. 
 
Recruit volunteers: Gather a large pool of volunteers for crucial roles, including assembling The Wall, staffing it during open hours, assisting visitors, and disassembling it. Volunteers also provide on-site assistance, including visitor direction, help with the mobile education center, and overall parking and visitor management. 
 
Promote the event: Utilize social media, newspapers, television, radio, and word of mouth to advertise. 
 
Create a welcoming environment: Volunteers should act as a welcoming presence, providing support and assistance to visitors. Vincent said it was important to be mindful of the sanctity of the event, giving people space to take in the meaning and emotion of the exhibit.  
 
Support visitors: Offer guidance in locating names, assist with name rubbings, and offer compassionate support to those who are emotionally impacted by the experience. 
 
Host ceremonies: Arrange for events and ceremonies to honor veterans and their sacrifices.  
 
Community appreciation: Look for other ways to show appreciation in the community.  A motorcycle procession is often used to escort The Wall, allowing the community to line the streets as a gesture of welcome and appreciation for the veterans.  
 
For more information on hosting the mobile memorial and upcoming events, visit www.vvmf.org.