‘The Wall’ to visit Gonzales

GONZALES — Few monuments are more moving than the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. This March, a mobile version will make an appearance in Gonzales.

At Monday’s Gonzales Economic Development Corporation meeting, City Manager Allen Barnes announced that the replica, called The Wall That Heals, will set up on Texas Heroes Square on March 23-26.

Upon further comment, Barnes said that it was the least an appreciative city could do for its veterans. 

The idea, which is still in the planning stages but is a lock on the date, grew out of a conversation with City of Gonzales Councilman Tommy Schurig on how to appropriately honor the 50th anniversary of the start of the war. Schurig had seen a replica wall in another community and thought it right to bring it here.

Barnes researched several traveling wall exhibits and found this one, which is organized by the group that oversees the national monument in D.C. If they were the ones responsible for the actual wall, Barnes figured, they would be the ones to talk to.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveiled the half-scale replica on Veterans Day 1996. It has since traveled to over 400 cities across the country and touched millions of people in the process.

The wall replica is approximately 250 feet in length and keeps the chevron-shape of the original. It is made of powder-coated aluminum, supported by an aluminum frame and consists of 24 panels. 

The wall also travels with a mobile education center. Information cases pop out of the trailer that carries the wall which displays letters and memorabilia that have been left at the D.C. memorial along with other mementos and information.

“Bringing The Wall home to communities throughout our country allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist once more among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings,” said a statement on the exhibit’s website. “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.”

Barnes is coordinating with several civic organizations to volunteer their time to the effort and is looking to arrange nightly events that dovetail with the exhibit. He said that the school is already on board to help educate students on the impact of the conflict. The Memorial Fund provides curriculum to schools ahead of its arrival to help facilitate this.

While the events of that week are still in the early planning stages, Barnes was able to say that he hopes to partner with the San Antonio military base to reach those service members and he hopes to speak with the Medal of Honor Society about hosting some of those recipients here.

His goal is to promote the appearance as a regional affair, drawing in veterans in from surrounding communities. He wants the turnout to be high with every parking space on the squares full — and then some.

When possible, organizers of the exhibit honor veterans from the hometown that the wall visits.

“They will be especially honored in some way,” Barnes said of the Gonzales Vietnam casualties of war. “It’s our way as a community to give back to these guys.”

Barnes, who is genuinely excited about the event, expects some tremendous stories to be told, for sure.

The planning began in August and was budgeted into the city’s budget. The $7,500 price tag — which was the least expensive touring exhibit out there, Barnes noted — will be covered by the city’s hotel/motel tax.

“Everybody I’ve talked to is on fire about this,” Barnes said. “I don’t know how we’ll top this.”