"The Wall That Heals" is a three quarter sized replica of the Vietnam Veteran's War Memorial in Washington D.C. that visits 40 communities across the country each year. It will be in Paducah's Carson Park October 25th through 28th. Austin Carter spoke with Organizing Committee member, Mary Beth Orr, about the memorial and the challenge of bringing it to Paducah.
"It's kind of a hot thing to get, to be able to bring it to your town," Orr said. "We've applied three different times and were finally granted the privilege of bringing it to Paducah." The Wall That Heals takes up almost 400 feet and is nearly eight feet tall. The monument is open 24-hours a day and is well lit by LED lights at night. It is set up in a chevron shape similar to the arrangement of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Mary Beth Orr said that the wall will come into Paducah on a 53-foot semi-truck trailer accompanied by a host of vehicles. Orr said she hopes that people along the route will give a warm welcome to the wall and its escorts. She added that the idea for the replica wall most likely came about as a way to honor and respect all of the lives lost during the Vietnam War and as a way to educate younger generations about the sacrifice of those involved.
A new feature to The Wall That Heals this year is the ability to make rubbings of names engraved on the wall. Formerly requests had to be sent to Washington, D.C. There are 46 names from the Western Kentucky area on the wall, and Orr says "we are very pleased to be able to bring honor to those families who have loved ones on the wall."
The Wall That Heals will be in Paducah's Carson Park from October 25th to the 28th and will be available to visit 24-hours a day during that time.
