The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, is coming to Merced College Thursday to Sunday.

Brought to the area by the Merced Sunrise Rotary organization, the project will be open 24 hours a day and is free to the public. 

The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is pleased to bring The Wall That Heals mobile exhibit to Merced, CA to allow local veterans and their family members a chance to experience The Wall,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF. “Hosting The Wall That Heals provides an opportunity to honor and remember all those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War and educate visitors on the continuing impact of the Vietnam War on America.”

The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history.

The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors are able to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.

The Wall That Heals was escorted to Merced College on Tuesday by an estimated 100-plus motorcycle riders.

An opening ceremony will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Thursday with guest speaker Admiral Michael Seward, USCG (ret) of Hilmar.

On Friday, Al Osborn, USAF/Vietnam Veteran of Merced is the scheduled keynote speaker. The ceremony is set for 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. From 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday there will be a candlelight procession and reading of names of fallen heroes of Vietnam War from Merced and surrounding counties.

A closing ceremony will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

The mobile Education Center exhibit includes: digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes” - service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died; video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the In Memory plaque; a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. The exhibits tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict, and are designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a historical and cultural context.

The 2024 national The Wall That Heals tour is sponsored by USAA. Through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association, the trucking industry, and Blue Beacon, the exhibit is able to travel across the country. Locally, The Wall That Heals is being brought to Merced by Mike and Lori Gallo & Linda and Kenny Jelacich & the Peter J. Gallo Memorial Foundation (presenting sponsors) and Merced Sunrise Rotary in continued partnership with Merced College. More information can be found at www.thewallthatheals-merced.com.

“Thank you for bringing The Wall that Heals to Merced and the Central Valley; giving us the opportunity to honor the memory and selfless sacrifice of all those who were killed in action, including our brother Peter J. Gallo, while serving our country in Vietnam,” said Mike Gallo, CEO of Joseph Gallo Farms and Joseph Farms Cheese. “For my sister Linda Jelacich, her husband Kenny, and my wife Lori and I, serving our family, friends, community and country is of paramount importance.  We are honored to sponsor this event and encourage everyone to continue to take care of our veterans and all first responders who do so much for others.”

Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in more than 700 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005. The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1982. The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C. and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall. More information can be found at: www.thewallthatheals.org.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.