Two men make rubbings of names of the fallen from the wall
NEWBURGH – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund describes the Wall
that Heals exhibit as a replica of the actual wall located in Washington
D.C. and a mobile education center dedicated to spreading the healing
legacy of the Vietnam War and educates about its impacts. The Wall that
Heals is located this weekend at the People’s Waterfront Park in
Newburgh, New York.
The Wall, which lists all Americans killed during the war, is open to
visitors 24-hours-a-day from August 2-5. This is the only official stop
in New York State for the 2018 tour.
During opening ceremonies on Thursday, Ret. Col. Russell Vernon reminded
those in attendance that 58,318 Americans never came home, and all of
their names are on the wall.
“Thirty-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-six of those were
22 years old or younger; 33,103 were just 18 years old; 997 of them were
killed on their first day in country; 1,148 killed on their last day;
153 of them were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; 273 of them
were trained just south of us at West Point,” he said.
Tim Tetz, the director of Outreach for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
said The Wall that Heals was initially dedicated in 1982, but in 1996
the replica wall and mobile education center was constructed and taken
on tour “to help share the healing power of the wall.” He
said each year the wall is taken on tour making anywhere between 35 and
40 stops, Newburgh being one of 38 stops this year.
The exhibit is open to the public through Sunday evening.
On Friday there will be a candle-light vigil at 7: 30 p.m. On Saturday
there will be a reading of names of local Vietnam veterans lost and the
Greater Newburgh Symphony will perform at 2 p.m. A closing ceremony will
be at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
