A Journey of Remembrance

Story by Gail Mihalik  |  Photography by Erich Perez

On April 30, 1975, the Vietnam War ended. Although the war took place over 40 years, American soldiers were fortunately only involved for approximately half that time.

In 2025, 50 years will have passed, and many hearts in our nation are still healing from the scars of war; one man's profound experience at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982 inspired his new journey of “The Wall.”

This memorial is trucked across the states with many scheduled stops, each lasting about five days. The completely illuminated synthetic granite wall panels have over 58,000 names etched upon them, and people can visit them day and night.

The names on the wall have an indicator (+) next to them denoting whether they were reported missing or prisoners of war, and a (♦) for those who were known or presumed deceased when this memorial was built.

The Moving Wall, also known as the Healing Wall, is a powerful symbol of healing and remembrance for those affected by the Vietnam War.

One Man’s Inspiration

John Devitt, a U.S. Army veteran who spent two tours in Vietnam as crew chief and door gunner with the First Cavalry Division, attended the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982. That day changed his life. He wasn’t expecting anything more than a simple ceremony, but it touched his soul.

As moved as he was, he felt he needed to share that feeling with others. Knowing many could not make the trip to Washington, DC. His idea to create a replica of the Wall and take it to cities across the nation became a reality. He and Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veterans volunteered to build the Walls. Together, they worked designing, planning, and creating the three walls; in just two years, they had the first one out on the road, with its first stop in Tyler, Texas, in October of 1984, with the plan of two more right behind.

The first was permanently retired in 2004 at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Pittsburg, Kansas. The monument is open to the public, free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Showing the memories will never be forgotten.

The Walls symbolize the immense strength and sacrifice of the men and women who enlisted to help North and South Vietnam battle the communist takeover. Their commitment and sacrifice are deeply honored in the Moving Wall. So many people lost loved ones in the war, while some never had closure. This traveling Wall, a powerful symbol of remembrance, honors the soldiers lost at war and provides the families left behind with a sense of closure and peace.

Despite being half the size of the original, the traveling Wall, with the center standing 6 feet in height and a length of 300 feet, is a powerful symbol. Its impact is not diminished, and it continues to honor the fallen soldiers with multiple scheduled stops and state trooper escorts.

The tours run from May into November, honoring the months in which the involvement in the Vietnam War began and ended. To locate a stop, visit www.TheMovingWall.org