OCEAN PINES, Md. The Wall That Heals is 3/4 the size of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. but it still holds all 58,279 names. People can visit and read them or check out the mobile education center 24/7 until 2 p.m. Sunday.
The 375 foot traveling memorial was escorted to Veterans Memorial Park Tuesday afternoon.
"It's like the parade that I never got, that we never got as Vietnam vets," says Sergeant Frank Bolen.
The retired U.S. Marine Corps. Vietnam combat veteran drove the first motorcycle in the escort. He says he'll be at the wall for all veterans and anyone else who might have trouble bringing themselves to view it.
"Panel 27 W is mine," Bolen says. "I have five of my buddies on that panel, who died April 7th, 1969. I always carry that panel and I set it up and I visit them every morning and every night while the wall is here and it means a lot to me." The Wall That Heals doesn't usually travel to Maryland to give states that are farther away from D.C. a chance to see it. Marie Gilmore says the Worcester County Veterans Memorial Foundation wanted to host it for years. "They made an exception and brought it to the eastern shore of Maryland and we could not be happier because it gives us a chance to honor all of the hometown heroes, those who grew up, went to war and never came home," Gilmore says. The mobile exhibit will be in 26 communities for its 26 season this year. "If anybody who comes in, if they are looking for a name, we can help them pinpoint a name," says Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund President of Programs and Communications Heidi Zimmerman. "We can help them with name rubbings and we also do the guided tours. We'll put out a sign that says guided tours start at a certain time and take people around and share the history of the wall and talk about all of the items that are in the display." The mobile education center has digital displays, photos, items from the Vietnam era and items that were left at the wall. A helicopter pilot helmet was donated by a veteran when the wall was in Ocean View in 2019. A welcome home ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday. Then people can line up along the wall with candles at 7 p.m. Friday while the names of Vietnam veterans from Delmarva are read. Originally the candlelit ceremony was planned for Saturday night, but Gilmore says they have to reschedule due to predicted rain. Gilmore says bring a chair because seating is limited. Volunteers will be needed again to take the wall down. Gilmore says those interested can come to Veterans Memorial Park at 2p.m. on Sunday.