Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica, The Wall That Heals, Coming to Alexandria, June 12 -15
The exhibit will be located on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and will be open 24 hours a day, free to the public.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile Education Center, will be on display in Alexandria from June 12 to 15.
“As a result of closures of streets and the National Mall for the military parade on June 14th in Washington, D.C., the largest annual event held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was displaced. Fortunately, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial eagerly stepped forward to bring the sanctity and peaceful nature of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the thousands of family and friends gathering to honor their Vietnam veterans,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF.
The exhibit will be located on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and will be open 24 hours a day, free to the public.
The Wall honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The accompanying mobile Education Center features digital photo displays of local service members, educational exhibits, and artifacts from the original memorial in Washington, D.C.
While the Wall is in town, photographs of service members listed on The Wall from Alexandria and nearby counties will be showcased, along with a second digital display honoring Vietnam veterans through the In Memory program.
“We are blessed to have the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in our backyard, but locals never get the opportunity to see representative examples of the 400,000 items left behind at The Wall. With the mobile Education Center, they will not only get to see these items but can spend time reflecting on the impact of the war and the Memorial in our backyard. Whether you’ve never been to The Wall or been dozens of times, this portion of the exhibit is immensely powerful,” said local hosting committee co-chair Cynthia Long.
The three-quarter-scale replica of The Wall stretches 375 feet long and reaches 7.5 feet at its highest point. As visitors approach the apex, they’ll experience the powerful effect of the wall rising above them—an intentional element of the original design in Washington, D.C.
Guests will also have the opportunity to make name rubbings of individual service members listed on The Wall. The exhibit will be set atop the grassy knoll overlooking the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, offering a striking view that connects two of the nation’s most iconic architectural landmarks.
Special events during the exhibit include an Agent Orange Awareness candlelight vigil on Thursday, June 12; the In Memory 2025 Induction Ceremony on Saturday, June 14, honoring 774 Vietnam veterans who returned home and later died; and the Father’s Day Rose Remembrance on Sunday, June 15, where visitors can sponsor roses to honor and remember fathers who served in Vietnam.
Normally, a community has six months to several years to accomplish the planning necessary to make this happen. To support the event, more than 200 volunteers will be necessary to help set up on Thursday, June 12th and take down on Monday, June 16th. In addition, since the exhibit will be open 24 hours each day, dozens of volunteers will be necessary to serve and answer questions from visitors.
For more information, including volunteer opportunities and event details, visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website at www.vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals-Alexandria.
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