The Wall that Heals
October 17 – 20, 2024
Dorchester Heritage Center Site
964 US Highway 78
Ridgeville, SC
Open to the public 24 hours daily, closing on Sunday at 2:00 pm.
*Free admission and parking
Hosted by: Dorchester Heritage Center
The Wall That Heals is a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The Wall That Heals is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, founders of The Wall.
We are pleased that The Wall That Heals will be coming to Dorchester County for the first time ever on October 17 through October 20, 2024.
Please mark these dates on your calendar as all are invited to visit The Wall That Heals. Visit the links below for more information on the In Memory Program, escort, events and how you can support The Wall That Heals visit and to volunteer.
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The Wall
The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron shape, and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members’ names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, and machine engraving of more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provides readability of The Wall both day and night. The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C. and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country.
“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 more important than ever. We want to
ensure that the Vietnam generation never forget how much we appreciate their service today.”
Mobile Education Center and Information Tent
The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms into a mobile Education Center, providing insight into the history of The Wall and Vietnam War.
Displays include:
- Hometown Heroes – Digital rotating display of photos of service members on The Wall who list their home of record from the local area.
- In Memory Honor Roll – Digital display of photos of Vietnam veterans from South Carolina who were added to VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home and later died of Vietnam-related causes. Apply here.
- Videos and timeline on the history of The Wall.
- A display representing the types of items left at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
- A replica of the In Memory plaque that honors those veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died.
For more information on how to support The Wall That Heals visit or other questions, please call us at (843) 931-1021.
Additional events related to the Wall that Heals coming soon.
HONOR YOUR VIETNAM VETERANS THROUGH “IN MEMORY” PROGRAM
Do you know a Vietnam veteran whose life was cut short after they returned home?
Honor their sacrifice through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s “In Memory” program. Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered each year due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD/suicide, cancer, and other causes related to their service. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s “In Memory” program honors those who returned home from Vietnam and later died.
Apply to honor your Vietnam veteran through the In Memory program by September 20, and their photo will be included in the South Carolina Honor Roll displayed in the mobile Education Center when The Wall That Heals is in Dorchester County.
There is no cost to apply, and the program is offered to all who served in Vietnam and have since passed on. For an In Memory application to honor your Vietnam veteran, click here.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteer at The Wall That Heals in Dorchester County.
The Wall That Heals Committee invites the community to support our veterans and join us to volunteer and support the display of The Wall That Heals.
Volunteers are a crucial part of The Wall That Heals experience for visitors. Our goal is for each visitor to depart with moving memories of the entire exhibit; and a real understanding of the Vietnam War and its impact on the men and women who served, their friends and families, and our Nation. Our most important objective is that every Vietnam veteran that visits this memorial while in our community feels an appreciation for their service and sacrifice and experiences true healing of a deep and long-standing pain. There will be many visitors from all over the state and country, including students coming from the local and area school districts.
General Volunteers
General event volunteers will greet and direct visitors, assist with finding names located on The Wall That Heals, and assist in the Mobile Education Center. Volunteers should be good listeners, willing to engage with everyone and let visitors tell their story. The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours a day; and staffed with volunteers at all hours.
Volunteer positions require standing and walking around the mobile Education Center and at The Wall. Volunteers can sit and take a break in the designated volunteer check-in area during their shift. These are not seated positions and volunteers need to wear appropriate clothing for the weather.
Volunteer assignments may include:
- Standing at several points along The Wall That Heals for assistance and welcoming all visitors.
- Directing visitors around the exhibits on display at the Mobile Education Center.
- Assisting visitors in locating names in Directory of Names book and providing brochures on such topics as Women and Chaplains on The Wall, In Memory Program, and Wall Facts.
- Ensure decorum is observed at The Wall That Heals to provide a respectful reflective setting for all.
- Volunteer training is set for October 16, 2024 at 6pm.
Wall Volunteer contact
- Volunteers who have questions can contact Deb Davis via email at coordinator.dhcsc@gmail.com.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING JOINING THE VOLUNTEER TEAM.
The Wall That Heals will be staffed with volunteers around the clock for the duration of its time in Dorchester County.
ESCORT FOR THE WALL THAT HEALS
You and your motorcycle group are invited to join the escort for The Wall That Heals. Escort will travel through the country to the final location at the Dorchester Heritage Center Site.
The community are asked to line the streets to greet the riders and The Wall That Heals along its route. (Route will be posted the week before arrival)
If you are interested in participating, please contact us at 843.931.1021 or email our Escort Coordinator, Edsel Taylor, at edseltaylor9@gmail.com.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
In October, the Dorchester Heritage Center will proudly host a ¾ scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from Washington D.C. – The Wall That Heals. This event represents a unique opportunity to pay tribute to our Vietnam Veterans collectively.
The Dorchester Heritage Center is excited to undertake this meaningful project. However, we cannot achieve this without your invaluable support. In the months leading up to the event, we must secure the necessary funds to make this endeavor a reality. We invite you to become a sponsor today.
As a sponsor, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our community can experience The Wall That Heals exhibit in all its glory. Spanning 375 feet in length and rising to a height of 7.5 feet at its tallest point, the exhibit will allow visitors to create name rubbings of over 58,000 individual service members whose names adorn the Wall. Our goal is to provide an experience as close as possible to visiting the actual monument in Washington D.C.
To sponsor now online: CLICK HERE
To sponsor via check: DOWNLOAD THE SPONSORSHIP FORM HERE
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact the DHC Sponsorships Coordinator, Bill Blakely, at w.blakely@scdchs.com