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The Wall That Heals: Opening ceremony will be Thursday morning
Memorial will be open 24 hours a day
wall-shadowbox-simmons
Pictured is one of the shadow boxes that will be on display with The Wall That Heals memorial. John Simmons, Hoisington, was among the six servicemen from Barton County who died during the Vietnam War.

The Wall That Heals memorial will arrive in Great Bend on Tuesday and will be on display at Al Burns Field in Veterans Memorial Park from May 11 to May 14.

 The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.

Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members’ names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.

As on The Wall in D.C., the names on The Wall That Heals are listed by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) work their way out to the end of that wing, pick up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and work their way back into the center/apex, joining the beginning and end of the conflict at the center.


Schedule

Tuesday, May 9

• The Wall That Heals arrival parade – 2:30 p.m. (approximate time) from 10th Street to Main, north to 24th Street, west toward Al Burns Field at Veterans Memorial Park to make its final stop for the week. The public is asked to welcome the motorcade by being on Main Street or 24th Street waving flags and wearing red, white and blue.


Wednesday, May 10

• Construction of The Wall That Heals – 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Al Burns Field at Veterans Memorial Park, 17th St. Terrace. Mandatory volunteers’ meeting at 6 p.m. Taps will be played daily at dusk.


Thursday, May 11

• The Wall That Heals opening ceremony – 7:50 a.m. at Al Burns Field, Veterans Memorial Park, 17th St. Terrace. 

The Great Bend High School Marching Band will play, followed by the opening prayer by an Army Chaplain and remarks by Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab. Gold Star Families will be recognized and local families from Barton County that lost family members during the Vietnam War will be recognized.

The display will officially be open 24 hours a day through May 13. Taps will be played daily at Dusk.


Sunday, May 14

• The Wall That Heals closing ceremony – 1:45 p.m., with opening remarks by Scott Donovan, closing prayer by VFW Chaplain Bill Gales, and the playing of Taps. At 2 p.m., The Wall That Heals will be closed to the public.


For more information online, including opportunities to volunteer, visit exploregreatbend.com/wallthathealsgbks.

conrad-straub-wall
Pictured is one of the shadow boxes that will be on display with The Wall That Heals memorial. Conrad Straub, Claflin, was among the six servicemen from Barton County who died during the Vietnam War.