Amethyst heart
This memorial was formerly one of several traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorials. In May 1999 The Wall visited Altoona, Pa. for four days, during which time it was discovered that it would be retired to storage following its visit.
Through the efforts of a dedicated group of individuals within the community, the funds were raised to purchase the memorial where it was installed permanently on the grounds of the James E. Vandt VA Medical Center.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
On May 18, 2000, exactly one year from the date of its original visit, The Wall was dedicated during a four-day Homecoming Celebration.There are 58,214 names on The Wall. Each name is laser etched into the panels of reflective black, powder-coated heavy aluminium. The panels are attached to the concrete retaining wall and surrounded by beautiful African black granite, top and bottom. The Wall has helped Veterans from World War 1 to the Golf War find healing and a powerful connection with a common military experience. Non-Veteran's, from school children to parents and grandparents, find in The Wall a deeper appreciation of the sacrifice, service, and courage of our nation's Veterans.The Wall offers the opportunity to draw from the experience lessons of today's life and life in the future.
East Wall
The visitor's center, located at the end of The Wall, contains a display of memorabilia left at The Wall in honor and memory of some of those heros whose names are listed there. Also in the visitor's center is a self serve computer database of all the names on The Wall, including information regarding the veteran's casuality and where the name is located on The Wall. The Wall that heals offers a powerful gift to the Alleghany Mountains region: an opportunity for the souls enshrined on the memorial to journey back to the places they called home, to exist among friends and family once more, in the comfort and peace of familiar surroundings.
West Wall
The Order of Names
The list of names begin at the vertex of the walls below the year of the first casuality, and continues to the end of that wing. It resumes at the beginning of the opposite wing, ending at the vertex, above the name of the last death.
This meeting of the beginning and ending signifies an epoch in American history.
More Pictures of The Wall That Heals
Front
Visitors Center
