GARDINER — “The Wall That Heals” will be the topic of the Kennebec Historical Society’s July free public presentation set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, at Christ Episcopal Church, 2 Dresden Ave.
Billie Ellis, presenter, has been promoting and making presentations about The Wall That Heals since September 2017 She and her husband, Robert Egloff, are committed to educating the public about the wall and the Vietnam War era. They believe that bringing the wall to those unable to make the trip to Washington is extremely important. Ellis and Egloff reside in Chelsea, according to a news release from the society.
The replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile education center, will be open 24 hours a day, starting July 19, and is free to the public. The Wall That Heals honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War and bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
Gardiner will be among the first communities to host the new, larger exhibit, which includes a three-quarter-scale wall replica that is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. With the new replica at this size, visitors can experience the wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of the real wall in Washington, D.C. For the first time in the history of The Wall That Heals, visitors will be able to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on the wall, according to the release.
“We are thrilled to share the new The Wall That Heals exhibit with the public this year. Through The Wall That Heals, we are able to return the names home to communities across the country and allow Vietnam veterans and their family members who cannot make it to Washington, D.C., the opportunity to see the wall. It gives communities a teaching moment for younger generations on why we should honor those who have served and sacrificed so much,” said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF, according to the release.
For more information, call the society at 622-7718.
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