Vietnam Veterans Memorial Makes Local Visit, Invites Reflection

by Expression Staff

A powerful tribute to the men and women who served in the Vietnam War has arrived in Montgomery Township and will be open for public display at Windlestrae Park Thursday, July 10 -Sunday, July 13. 

The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., offers visitors the opportunity to walk alongside the 375-foot-long wall and pay tribute to the more than 58,000 names inscribed on its surface—each representing a life lost in the conflict. 

Initially opened 1996, The Wall That Heals was created to bring the experience of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to communities across the United States and provide more people, especially veterans and their families, the opportunity to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It has traveled to more than 800 locations. 

“Hosting The Wall That Heals provides an opportunity to honor and remember all those who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War and educate visitors on the continuing impact of the Vietnam War on America,” explained Jim Knotts, president and CEO of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.  

According to the organization responsible for the project, “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. The traveling exhibit provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall [in Washington, D.C.] to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin.”

The traveling exhibit includes a Mobile Education Center featuring photos, letters, and stories of Vietnam veterans. It will be open 24-hours a day throughout its stay, providing free and full access to all members of the public.

An Opening Ceremony on Thursday, July 10 at 10:00 a.m. will officially launch the exhibit. Other highlights include a PTSD awareness candlelight vigil on Friday evening, and Closing Ceremonies beginning at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. Guided tours, remembrance events, and solemn ceremonies will occur daily during the exhibition.

The Wall’s arrival in Montgomery Township was marked by a solemn procession on July 8. Residents lined the roads, waving flags and holding signs in tribute as a motorcade –led by police escorts and including over 100 motorcycles ridden by veterans and supporters—departed from Valley Forge National Historical Park and traveled through King of Prussia, Norristown, and Whitpain Township. The display is being assembled upon arrival in Montgomery Township by local volunteers and township staff.

The exhibit is fully wheelchair accessible, and ASL interpretation will be available during major ceremonies. All are invited to visit, lay flowers, reflect, and honor the lives of the more than 58,000 service members memorialized on the Wall.

IF YOU GO:

• Location: Windlestrae Park, 1147 Kenas Road, North Wales, PA
• Dates: July 10–13, 2025
• Hours: Open 24 hours daily (closes Sunday at 2:00 p.m.)
• Admission: Free
• More Info: www.thewallthathealsmontgomerytwppa2025.org
• Contact: TWTH@montgomerytwp.org | 215‑393‑6900

Schedule of Events

• Opening Ceremony: Thursday, July 10, at 10:00 a.m.
• PTSD Awareness Candlelight Vigil: Friday, July 11 (evening)
• Daily Guided Tours and Remembrance Activities
• Closing Ceremony: Sunday, July 13, at 1:45 p.m. (Wall closes at 2:00 p.m.)

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