The Wall That Heals Schedule of Events
The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-size reproduction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be at Lake Benson Park (921 Buffaloe Road) March 31-April 3. There is a full slate of events happening in conjunction with The Wall's temporary installation at the park. You can learn more and get the latest updates about The Wall at garnerwall.com.
The Escort
The Wall That Heals will be escorted by dozens of motorcycles to Lake Benson Park on National Vietnam Veteran Day, March 29. The processional will begin in Clayton at noon and after riding through downtown Clayton will travel U.S. 70 toward Garner. The processional is expected to pass the Greenfield Business Park overpass around 12:25 p.m. and turn onto Timber Drive around 12:35. The truck will turn onto Aversboro Road, a large crowd is expected at the Poole YMCA around 12:40 p.m. as the wall nears the park and arrives at Lake Benson Park around 12:45 p.m.
The Candlelight Welcome Home Ceremony
A Candlelight Ceremony will be held at The Wall on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. Our community will honor all the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who perished in Vietnam.
Nine wreaths, one each for the eight community men killed in Vietnam and another for survivors who have died since the war, will be placed at The Wall by Gold Star families and a military escort.
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience The Wall by candlelight.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. (retired) Dr. James Johnson, a Vietnam War chaplain, will be the principal speaker. Area Boys Scouts will assist in the lighting and there will be special music.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets because seating is limited. The ceremony will last about 40 minutes.
Welcome Home Celebration
Our Vietnam veterans will be celebrated with Welcome Home—A Walk To The Wall and Concert on Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m.
Dozens of Vietnam veterans will follow the U.S. Marine 2D Aircraft Wing band to The Wall That Heals at Lake Benson Park. The band will go into formation and perform a concert in front of The Wall.
U.S. Marine Col. Samuel Lee Meyer, a Garner Senior High graduate, will be the keynote speaker and U.S. Army Col. (retired) Joe Marm, a Medal of Honor recipient, is the grand marshal.
(Vietnam veterans and a guest can park at Lake Benson Park and be transported to the starting point of the celebration. The Vietnam veterans and their guest will have reserved seating, but others are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.)
The Wall That Heals Documentary
Show N Tell Ministries and CrazyDuck Productions has produced a documentary about The Wall That Heals.
The 30-minute program tells the stories of six North Carolina service members who perished in Vietnam, including Garner’s W. Harold Till, Jr.; examines the lingering effects of the war on our service members; and features music by the U.S. Marine 2D Aircraft Wing band.
The documentary will be screened at the N.C. Museum of History (Saturday, March 12, 2 p.m.); Aversboro Road Baptist Church (Sunday, March 20, 3 p.m.); and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville (Sunday, March 27, 2 p.m.).
The 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus will be special guests for the presentation at Aversboro Road Baptist Church on March 20.
The documentary will be broadcast for Fox 50 (Saturday, March 26, 1 p.m.), by WRAL-TV (Sunday, March 27, 12:30 p.m.) and by PBS-North Carolina (Memorial Day).