The City of Kyle has been conferred a special honor to kick off the New Year.
Kyle has been chosen to host “The Wall That Heals,” a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as part of its national tour scheduled for 2023, marking the 50th anniversary of the close of the Vietnam War.
The traveling exhibit, which includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a mobile Education Center, bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
“We are honored to have been chosen to host The Wall That Heals during its 2023 tour and hope to see visitors from all around the state and nation join us in reflecting and remembering the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces in the Vietnam War,” said Rachel Sonnier, communications director for the City of Kyle.
According to Sonnier, Kyle was selected as the ideal location because of its central location between Austin and San Antonio and the size of its city park, which offers adequate space to present the Wall.
“The city also has a strong relationship with our veteran community and has worked with them to not only create an annual Veterans Day Parade, but to also bring the dream of a veterans memorial to fruition through the Heroes Memorial Park,” Sonnier said. “We are deeply appreciative of our veterans organizations and all the work they do in our community — especially the Central Texas AMVETS for having the vision and drive to start the process to bring The Wall That Heals to Kyle.”
The Central Texas AMVETS Post 115 has raised $2,000 beginning in early 2022 to bring The Wall That Heals exhibit to Kyle. On Tuesday, Aug. 16, the Kyle City Council unanimously voted to support and fund the application and operations of hosting the exhibit in Kyle through Hotel Occupancy Tax funds.
The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
According to VVMF, more than 100 communities sought the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals in 2023, and only 31 were chosen, including Kyle.
“March 29th, of 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the removal of our combat troops from Vietnam. This milestone, and the 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War are prominent in the collective memory of our nation and our Vietnam veterans. We look forward to providing our host communities a healing experience for local veterans and their families and an educational experience for all visitors,” said Jim Knotts, President and CEO of VVMF. “Our ability to bring this exhibit throughout the nation to honor and remember all those who served in the Vietnam War is always important but even more on these milestone anniversaries.
“Even 50 years later, this generation must never forget how much we appreciate their service today.” The Wall That Heals is sponsored by USAA and travels across the country through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the trucking industry, and Blue Beacon. The exhibit debuted in 1996 and since then it has been on display in more than 700 U.S. communities.
The exhibit will be on display from May 4-7 at Lake Kyle Park, 700 Lehman Road.
About The Wall Replica
The three-quarter scale replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. With the replica at this size, visitors are able to experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.
Like the original memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors are able to do name rubbings of the individual service member’s names on The Wall. The names are listed in order of date of casualty and alphabetically on each day. Beginning at the center/ apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back into the center/apex. The first and last casualties are side by side at the apex of the Memorial.
The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 144 individual panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Modern LED lighting from the top of The Wall provides readability of The Wall at night.
zgottlieb @sanmarcosrecord.com
