- Home
- Helpful Links
- The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals
November 9 -12, 2023
Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport
151 Airflow Drive
(Off Kensington Avenue)
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Open to the public 24 hours, closing Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
*Free admission and parking
Hosted by: The Spartanburg County Veterans’ Affairs Office and Spartanburg County
The Wall That Heals, is a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The Wall That Heals is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, founders of The Wall.
It will visit 31 communities across the U.S. during 2023, and we are pleased that The Wall That Heals will be coming to Spartanburg County. We are excited that the exhibit will be here on Veterans Day, as more than 100 communities sought the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals, and we are the only South Carolina community it will visit on the 2023 tour. The Spartanburg County Veterans’ Affairs Office will host it, and we are excited to be leading Spartanburg's The Wall That Heals Committee.
Please mark these dates on your calendar as all are invited to visit The Wall That Heals. Visit the other links for more information on the In Memory Program, escort, events and how you can support The Wall That Heals visit and to volunteer.
The Wall
The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron shape, and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members' names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, and machine engraving of more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provides readability of The Wall both day and night.
Mobile Education Center and Information Tent
The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms into a mobile Education Center. Providing insight into the history of The Wall and Vietnam war.
Displays include:
- Hometown Heroes – Digital rotating display of photos of service members on The Wall who list their home of record from the local area.
- In Memory Honor Roll – Digital display of photos of Vietnam veterans from South Carolina who were added to VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home and later died of Vietnam-related causes.
- Videos and timeline on the history of The Wall.
- A display representing the types of items left at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
- A replica of the In Memory plaque that honors those veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died.
For more information on how to support The Wall That Heals visit or other questions, please call (864) 598-7089 or email [email protected].
TENTATIVE EVENTS SCHEDULE
Please check back for updated information on the events planned.
Monday, 11/6, 2023
- Vietnam Veteran Honor Flight
- Spartanburg Downtown Airport
- Time TBD
Tuesday, 11/7 , 2023
- Escort the Wall (Honor Motorcycle Ride)
- Meet at Palmetto Patriots Veteran Home, Gaffney, SC
1:00 p.m. - Meeting and rider briefing at 1:45 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - Kickstands Up - Depart
3:00 p.m. - Estimated Time of Arrival
- Arrive at Spartanburg Downtown Airport
Wednesday, 11/8, 2023
8:30 a.m. - Set-up begins for the Assembly of The Wall That Heals (Rain or Shine)
5:45 p.m. - Wreath laying ceremony
- Vietnam Veterans at The Wall That Heals
- In-Memory Program at the Plaque
6:00 p.m. - Volunteer training - all volunteers encouraged to attend
Thursday, 11/9 – though Sunday, 11/12 , 2023
The Wall That Heals is open, 24 hours a day, closing Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, 11/9, 2023
- Education Tours All Day (Must be scheduled for tour)
4:00 p.m. - Teacher Tour (Must be scheduled for tour)
- Open to educators
5:30 p.m. - TAPS to be played
Friday, 11/10, 2023
- Education Tours All Day (Must be scheduled for tour)
7:30 a.m. - USMC Wreath Laying (USMC Birthday)
5:30 p.m. - TAPS to be played
7:00 p.m. - In Memory - Candlelight Vigil
Saturday, 11/11 , 2023
9:00 a.m. - Boy Scout Educational Tour
11:00 a.m. - Veterans Day Ceremony
4:00 p.m. - Veterans Day Parade
5:30 p.m. - TAPS to be played
Sunday, 11/12 , 2023
9:00 a.m. - Reading of the names - Hometown Heroes (186 KIA/POW)
- Greenville - 77
- Spartanburg - 56
- Laurens - 23
- Cherokee - 18
- Union - 12
2:00 p.m. - Closing remarks and takedown of The Wall That Heals
**TAPS WILL BE PLAYED EVERY EVENING AT 5:30 PM**
Group Tours
Tours for groups of 15 or more can be arranged. For more information, please call
(864) 598-7089 or email [email protected]
* Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the entire site.
* Pets are not permitted at The Wall, except for recognized service animals.
* No food or beverages may be consumed in the proximity of The Wall That Heals.
Information about Spartanburg
Out-of-town visitors are encouraged to attend the Candlelight Vigil on Friday and remain in town for the Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday.
To learn more about Spartanburg and information about overnight lodging, please click here Version OptionsThe Wall That HealsHeadlineHonor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" programVolunteerThank you for considering joining the volunteer team. Please sign up by clicking here.Escort for The Wall That HealsThank you to our sponsors.
Honor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" program
Do you know a Vietnam veteran whose life was cut short after they returned home?
Honor their sacrifice through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's "In Memory" program. Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered each year due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD/suicide, cancer, and other causes related to their service. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s "In Memory" program honors those who returned home from Vietnam and later died.
The Wall That Heals will be on display in Spartanburg from November 9 - November 12, 2023. Apply to honor your Vietnam veteran through the In Memory program by October 9th and their photo will be included in the South Carolina Honor Roll displayed in the mobile Education Center when The Wall That Heals is in Spartanburg.
There is no cost to apply, and the program is offered to all who served in Vietnam and have since passed on. For an In Memory application to honor your Vietnam veteran, click here Version OptionsThe Wall That HealsHeadlineHonor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" programVolunteerEscort for The Wall That HealsThank you to our sponsors Version OptionsThe Wall That HealsHeadlineHonor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" programVolunteerEscort for The Wall That HealsThank you to our sponsors. Version OptionsThe Wall That HealsHeadlineHonor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" programVolunteerEscort for The Wall That HealsThank you to our sponsors Version OptionsThe Wall That HealsHeadlineHonor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" programVolunteerEscort for The Wall That HealsThank you to our sponsors.
Candlelight Vigil, Friday, November 10th will be held to honor those who have died since Vietnam and all of those listed on The Wall.
The Wall That Heals Spartanburg Committee is being led by the Spartanburg County Veterans' Affairs Office. For more information about the In Memory program, please call (864) 598-7089 or click here Version OptionsThe Wall That HealsHeadlineHonor your Vietnam veterans through "In Memory" programVolunteerThank you for considering joining the volunteer team. Please sign up by clicking here.Escort for The Wall That HealsThank you to our sponsors.
Volunteer
Volunteer at The Wall That Heals in Spartanburg
The Wall That Heals Committee invites the community to support our veterans and join us to volunteer and support the display of The Wall That Heals. This will be the only visit to South Carolina this year.
Volunteers are a crucial part of The Wall That Heals experience for visitors. Our goal is for each visitor to depart with moving memories of the entire exhibit; and a real understanding of the Vietnam War and its impact on the men and women who served, their friends and families, and our Nation. Our most important objective is that every Vietnam veteran that visits this memorial while in our community feels an appreciation for their service and sacrifice and experiences true healing of a deep and long-standing pain. There will be many visitors from all over the state and country, including students coming from the local and area school districts.
General Volunteers
General event volunteers will greet and direct visitors, assist with finding names located on The Wall That Heals, and assist in the mobile Education Center. Volunteers should be good listeners, willing to engage with everyone and let visitors tell their story. The Wall that Heals will be open 24 hours a day; and staffed with volunteers at all hours.
Volunteer positions require standing and walking around the mobile Education Center and at The Wall. Volunteers can sit and take a break in the designated volunteer check-in area during their shift. These are not seated positions and volunteers need to wear appropriate clothing for the weather.
Volunteer assignments may include:
- Standing at several points along The Wall That Heals for assistance and welcoming all visitors.
- Directing visitors around the exhibits on display at the mobile Education Center.
- Assisting visitors in locating names in Directory of Names book and providing brochures on such topics as Women and Chaplains on The Wall, In Memory Program, and Wall Facts.
- Ensure decorum is observed at The Wall to provide a respectful reflective setting for all.
Wall Volunteer requirements
- The minimum age for volunteers is 18. (Volunteers must sign a waiver)
- Volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend a 1-hour training session at 6 PM Wednesday, November 8, held at The Wall That Heals.
- If you require a seated position to volunteer due to physical limitations, please email [email protected] . There is limited seated positions.
Thank you for considering joining the volunteer team. Please sign up by clicking here.
The Wall That Heals will be staffed with volunteers around the clock for the duration of its time in Spartanburg.
Escort for The Wall That Heals
You and your motorcycle group are invited to join the escort for The Wall That Heals. Escort will travel through the country to the final location at Spartanburg County Memorial Airport.
The community are asked to line the streets to greet the riders and The Wall That Heals along its route. (Route will be posted the week before arrival)
Escort Flyer
Meetup location: Palmetto Patriots Home
120 Hampshire Drive, Gaffney, SC 29341-2267
Escort Meetup: 1:00 p.m.
Departs: 2:00 p.m.
Escort arrives 3:00 p.m.
Arrives at 151 Airflow Drive, (Spartanburg County Memorial Airport)
If you are interested in participating, please contact
Ride Captain Heath Burgess at
Thank you to our sponsors
The Veterans Service Office and Spartanburg County all with other community organizations have sponsored the display of The Wall That Heals. Additional support is appreciated to help with items needed throughout the display and to support volunteers. For more information on how to support The Wall That Heals- Spartanburg visit, please call (864) 598-7089 or email [email protected].