WARRENSBURG — The Wall That Heals, a major component in the University of Central Missouri’s efforts to engage discussion, honor service members, and educate students and area citizens about the Vietnam War, is coming to campus June 29-July 2.
The free exhibit will be stationed on the west side of the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, and will be open 24 hours a day beginning at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, June 29, until close at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 2.
Approximately 250 feet long, The Wall that Heals is a mobile half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (often called The Wall) in Washington, D.C. It is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and includes a mobile Education Center, providing more information about the Vietnam War, as well as photos of service members whose names are on The Wall, a timeline of the Vietnam era, and letters and memorabilia left at The Wall in D.C.
The Wall That Heals includes the names of more than 58,000 service members who died or remain missing from their military service in the Vietnam War. Their names, which include 10 Johnson Countians, are listed along the chevron-shaped display by day of casualty.
Amber Clifford-Napoleone, associate professor of anthropology and director of the McClure Archives and University Museum, said bringing the exhibit to campus is consistent with the Archives and Museum’s designation by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) as a Vietnam Commemorative Partner. As such, the university also is playing a role in gathering and sharing veterans’ stories leading up to the nation’s 50th anniversary observance of the Vietnam War in 2025.
A brief opening ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. June 29 on the Kirkpatrick Library front lawn. At 6 p.m. in the Alumni memorial Chapel, there will be a special memorial service commemorating the Vietnam War. It will honor those who served and their families, and recognize local veterans whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Col. Gary Gilmore, senior Army chaplain with the Missouri Army National Guard, will officiate.
Doors open at 6 p.m. June 30 in Twomey Auditorium, Wood Building 100 for an advance preview of Ken Burns’ and Lynn Novick’s documentary, “The Vietnam War,” as well as a panel discussion featuring local Vietnam War veterans and civilian workers. KMOS-TV, UCM’s public television station, is making this possible. It is one segment within a 10-part documentary the station will air in September telling the epic story of the Vietnam War through firsthand accounts and testimony from nearly 100 witnesses. The documentary features many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides.
The Veterans Stand-Down is planned for 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the ballroom of the Elliott Student Union. Veterans’ organizations, health services representatives, and medical professionals will offer free assistance to veterans. Participants are encouraged to bring their DD Form 214 or other identification.
Throughout the four-day event, the McClure Archives and Museum exhibition, “Commemoration,” will be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in library room 1470. This event features the stories of local military veterans who were interviewed by UCM students, as well as memorabilia from local veterans.
The Wall That Heals is hosted by the McClure Archives and University Museum, which also joins in sponsoring the event with KMOS-TV, Museum of Missouri Military History, UCM Office of the Provost-Chief Learning Officer, and UCM Military and Veterans Services.
For more information, visit ucmo.edu/archmusm or Facebook.com/ucmarchivesandmuseum, or contact Clifford-Napoleone at 660-543-4649, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at James C. Kirkpatrick Library 1470.
