When Great Bend resident Larry Parsons applied to bring the Wall That Heals Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica and Mobile Education Center to Great Bend, he saw it as a great opportunity for the city. Parsons is the chairman of the local group working with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Committee to coordinate the visit and he addressed the City Council Tuesday night.
The massive display will be at Veterans Memorial Park’s Al Burns Field May 11-14. On that Thursday through Sunday, the display will be open 24 hours each day.
“When I made the application, I had three goals,” he said.
“One was to assist those who are still hurting from the Vietnam War, and there’s a lot of them,” he said. “A lot of them don’t talk to their kids about things. They still are upset about stuff. I wanted to recognize parents and people who sacrificed so much in the war.”
There are also eight women, 42 brothers, and three sets of fathers and sons on the wall. They all gave a lot, he said.
“My second goal was education,” he said. “I’m a certified teacher. I’ve got kids coming in buses now.”
Groups of up to 50 kids are scheduled to visit on the Thursday and Friday.
“My third goal was to showcase Great Bend,” he said. “I think this is going to be a great opportunity for you to showcase the town” with totals of up to 15,000 anticipated to walk through the exhibit.
The organization only allows 30 communities to host the wall each year. Great Bend was one of 100 applications.
“There’s nothing else in Kansas, there’s nothing else in Nebraska, there’s nothing else in Colorado and there’s nothing else in Oklahoma,” he said.
This is a massive undertaking that requires an army of volunteers and a lot of planning involving several city departments.
Parsons was at the City Council meeting Tuesday to promote the effort. The council approved a number of permissions allowing city personnel to help with the project.
Involved will be the Park Department, Police Department, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and Public Works Department. They will help with electricity, lighting, logistics, security and event promotion, as well as ensuring the VVMF’s needs are met.
“We are so proud,” said Christina Hayes, community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director, speaking to Parsons. “I do think it’s going to be an honor for Great Bend and it’s a great an honor to work with you and your family and the whole crew. I’m excited to see what happens.”
Parsons and his family have secured funding from the Dorothy Morrison Foundation and the Great Bend Foundation to bring this here, Hayes said.
For more information on The Wall That Heals visit to Great Bend visit www.exploregreatbend.com/wallthathealsgbks or call the Convention and Visitors Bureau Office at 620-792-2750.
