Traveling Vietnam Wall returns to Jasper County

The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is returning to Newton next week after a five year absence.

Bringing the wall back to Jasper County has been a priority for Doug Bishop, a member of Jasper County Veterans Alliance. Working with members of Post 111, Newton’s American Legion Hall, Bishop has wanted to bring the wall back to Newton ever since its last visit in 2013.

“It’s always good to have the veterans get together,” Bishop said. “It’s great to have this event take place once again in Jasper County.”

The wall is a nearly identical replica of the famed black granite wall that stands on the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Engraved with the names of the 58,318 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War, the exhibit also includes a traveling museum which has a timeline of events that occurred during the Vietnam War.

Visitors will also have a chance to see exhibits that explain the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as well the collection of items that have been left behind by those who’ve visited the wall.

“I think they appreciate the amount of respect that’s shown. It’s something they never received when they came home from Vietnam,” Bishop said. “It may be late, it may be towards the twilight of their life, but we want to show them our respect.”

For Bishop, bringing the wall back to Newton represents an opportunity for veterans who haven’t been able to visit the memorial in Washington to experience it up close. For many, seeing the wall is a healing experience, giving them a sense of closure.

“It’s good to know the history and honor the fallen, but I think the healing that takes place is the most important part,” Bishop said. “I know events like this create great healing for the men and women who served in Vietnam.”

Marta Ford, a Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commissioner and a member of Newton’s American Legion, said bringing the wall back to Jasper County gives local veterans a chance to come together as group. Ford, who’s been to Washington to see the memorial said every time she’s seen the wall it’s been a powerful experience for her.

“It’s really a moving experience. I wasn’t in Vietnam, but I served during that time,” Ford said. “For these guys and gals, it’s a moving experience every time they see it. I think each time they get more out of it.”

The Jasper County Veterans Alliance raised more than $10,000 to bring the wall back to Newton, something Ford said is a sign of how important it is for residents to honor local veterans.

“There’s a lot of patriotism and a lot of veterans in Jasper County, there really is,” Ford said. “It was a dollar here, ten dollars there, it was all a grassroots efforts. It was all money raised by residents from Jasper County.”

This year the wall will be located directly south of Newton’s American Legion, a change from the 2013 visit, where the wall was setup in Maytag Park. Bishop said the move to locate the wall next to H.A. Lynn Stadium will make it easier for more people to visit the memorial.

“I think the new location is going to offer a more flat and open area and we can have everything together,” Bishop said. “Having the Legion right next door is going to be perfect.”

The wall will arrive in Newton Tuesday evening, escorted into town by the American Legion Riders, and the setup will begin on Wednesday. Members of the Newton Fire Department will assist in setting up, part of more than 100 volunteers who’ve come together to help with the wall.

On Thursday, the group will hold an opening ceremony for the event, with Lt. Col. Lynn Harnden providing the keynote address. Harden, who is retired, flew two tours of duty as a Huey helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.

Following an introduction by Harden, the Military Veterans Band will play at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The wall will remain open around the clock throughout the week, giving visitors a chance to see the memorial up close. Members of the American Legion will be at the wall for duration of the visit, helping visitors find the names of the fallen. For Ford and Bishop, it’s also a chance for local veterans to get together again.

“For all of us to be together again, I’m really looking forward to it,” Ford said. “We’ve become quite the little family.”

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com