The Wall That Heals is coming to Sanford in September 2023. This 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, DC is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. The Wall, with its mobile Education Center, has traveled to nearly 700 communities across the country since its dedication in 1996.

The exhibit is being hosted by the Sanford Elks and local veterans’ service organizations. It will be on display on Rt. 109, South Sanford, in the field across from Walmart, 24 hours a day beginning Thursday, September 7, until closing Sunday, September 10 after noon. Admission will be free.

Bringing The Wall home to communities allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist once more among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings. The traveling exhibit provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin.

The Sanford visit is the only New England stop this year. The Committee organizing the visit is asking for donations to help defray the costs associated with bringing The Wall to Sanford. Visit this page to make a donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RQN8TMRBMDK6J
For more information or to discuss your donation, email Committee Chair Dawna Legere at VietnamHealingWallSanfordME@gmail.com.

In addition to financial sponsorship, over 200 volunteers will be needed to support the 24-hour display of The Wall. Volunteer positions include:

Set up crew: 9/6 from 7:45 am to 3:00 pm, rain or shine. Set up will be in the field across from Walmart.
Parking assistants: 9/6 through 9/10, various shifts available.
Location tent: 9/6 through 9/10, various shifts available. Assist visitors in finding a name on The Wall. This is a seated position.
Wall & Field Assistant: 9/6 through 9/10, various shifts available. Greet veterans and other visitors, assist with name rubbings, answer questions. Training provided.

For more information on volunteering, and to sign up, visit this page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084caba62ea7f4c25-thewall?useFullSite=true&fbclid=IwAR05QfgXTaquSivZTSRy8Tlce

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To help spread the word about this event, visit their website at: https://thewallthathealssanfordme.org/#

and share the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thewallthathealssanfordmaine?mibextid=LQQJ4d

For more about The Wall That Heals, visit: https://www.vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals/.

Photo credit: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund