‘Wall That Heals’ to visit OBX in November

By Submitted Story on March 14, 2023

(Dare County)

The Dare County Veterans Advisory Council has announced that it will host “The Wall That Heals”—a traveling, three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that tours the country along with an accompanying mobile education center—in Dare County in November 2023.

Honoring the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, “The Wall That Heals”—which is 375 feet in length and bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam—is transported from community to community via a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens up to showcase a variety of exhibits, allowing it to serve as a mobile education center that tells the story of the Vietnam War.

The free exhibit will be open to the public 24 hours a day from November 16 through November 19 at the Soundside Event Site, which is located at 6800 South Croatan Highway in Nags Head.

By hosting “The Wall That Heals” this fall, Dare County will provide an opportunity for local veterans, residents and visitors to the Outer Banks community to remember and honor those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War—and to educate them about the continuing impacts of the conflict on our country. Visitors will also have the opportunity to create a name rubbing of individual service members’ names on the wall when they visit the exhibit.

“The Dare County Veterans Advisory Council, as well as the committee we have established, feel that bringing ‘The Wall that Heals’ to Dare County is important not only to honor the veterans who served and died during the Vietnam War but to also teach and inform students and younger generations about the war and the sacrifices our soldiers made for our country,” said Dare County Veterans Services Officer Patty O’Sullivan.

How to donate

In order to bring “The Wall That Heals” to Dare County, the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council is seeking financial support from businesses and individuals. In addition to covering the costs associated with bringing “The Wall That Heals” and its accompanying mobile education center to the area, donations will also be used to help support the veterans within the community through the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council, which works to coordinate a wide array of services and activities that benefit local veterans and their families.

• Tax deductible donations can be made online through Interfaith Community Outreach, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is collaborating with the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council to bring “The Wall That Heals” to the Outer Banks in November. To donate online, please visit BRINGING THE WALL THAT HEALS EXHIBIT TO OUR VETERANS ON THE OUTER BANKS.
• Donations can also be submitted by mail to the Dare County Motorsports Charity Group, which is Dare County’s fundraising partner for this event. Please make checks payable to the Dare County Motorsports Charity Group and mail them to P.O. Box 999, Nags Head, NC 27959. Be sure to include “The Wall That Heals” in the check memo.

Sign Up to Volunteer

Numerous volunteers will be needed to help assemble the wall when it arrives, to work at the event site during its stay in Dare County in order to help direct visitors and answer any questions they may have, and to disassemble the wall before it begins its journey to the next location.

If you are interested in volunteering during this event, please use the links below to find more information about each volunteer position and to sign up.

• Set Up “The Wall That Heals” – Assembly Volunteer Schedule
• “The Wall That Heals” – Onsite Volunteer Schedule
• Disassemble “The Wall That Heals” – Take Down Volunteer Schedule

For more information about donating to bring “The Wall That Heals” to Dare County, as well as the various sponsorship levels that are available, please visit www.DareNC.gov/Wall. Any and all donations are appreciated, regardless of the amount.

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