‘Wall That Heals’ has mission of remembrance

A solitary man wearing a POW/MIA shirt stands silently in front of The Wall That Heals knowing that those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War will never be forgotten.

Vietnam Veterans of America Kent County chapter 850 member Michael Snyder of Dover salutes during the national anthem Thursday at The Wall That Heals.

From right, Vietnam Veterans of America national president John Rowan, Delaware State Council VVA president Paul Davis; VVA Chapter 850 president Joe Startt and Chapter 850 AVVA president Kathy Steele place ceremonial wreaths in front of The Wall That Heals Thursday morning during a short ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.

U.S. Rep. John Carney (D-Del) looks at The Wall That Heals during his remarks

Dover and Fire Pipes and Drums' Sgt. Chris Hermance and his son Blake, 14, perform "Amazing Grace" in front of The Wall That Heals concluding Thursday's ceremony.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 850 life member and president of the Delaware Veterans Coalition president Dave Skocik, who served as emcee at Thursday's ceremony, listens to Dover Mayor Robin Christiansen give his remarks.

Richard Spicola of Magnolia points to the name of PFC John R. Aneli of Philadelphia as his wife Kathleen Spicola emotionally takes a photograph of her childhood friend's name on The Wall That Heals.

Vietnam Veterans of America Delaware State Council president Paul Davis of Woodside chats with retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jon Reynolds of Wilmington, who was shot down over Vietnam and spent 7 years and 76 days in a POW camp until the '73 cease fire, before the start of the ceremony.

Vietnam Veterans of America national president John Rowan of Middle Village, NY remarked "This wall is smaller but it contains the same amount of names. It personifies the war."

Jasmine Warden, 8 of Seaford had the honor of reciting the pledge of allegiance during Thursday's ceremony at The Wall That Heals.

Veterans of the Korean War in attendance received a standing ovation from those in attendance at Thursday's ceremony.

Jason Steele of Clayton plays "Taps" on the bugle after the wreaths were placed.

Civil Air Patrol Eagle Cadet Squadron color guard present the colors beginning the ceremony Thursday.

From left, Commission of Veterans Affairs executive director Lawrence Kilby, U.S. Rep. John Carney (D-Del), VVA Chapter 850 chaplain Terry Sammons and president Joe Startt, and former POW retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jon Reynolds stand and salute during the ceremony.

A lone American flag placed at the base of the panels of The Wall That Heals sits Wednesday evening in Veterans Memorial Park illuminated in light.

The Wall That Heals is illuminated in bright lights Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park

A solitary figure kneels in front of The Wall That Heals in Veterans Memorial Park Wednesday evening.

Jane Meder of Camden holds a photo of her late husband Col. Paul Meder Wednesday, who went missing in Vietnam in 1972, over his name on The Wall That Heals, a mobile half-size replica of the Vietnam War memorial in Washington D.C.

Volunteers from Dover Air Force Base work throughout Wednesday morning erecting The Wall That Heals at Veterans Memorial Park.

Volunteers from Dover Air Force Base work throughout Wednesday morning erecting The Wall That Heals at Veterans Memorial Park.

The Wall That Heals is a half-size version of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. and is available for those wishing to see it or pay their respects throughout Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park in Dover next to the Kent County Levy Court building.

Airman First Class Steven Lewis of DAFB, left, was one of many airmen to volunteer their Wednesday to erect the wall.

Richard Wadkins of Greenwood didn't serve in Vietnam, he left the service in 1965, but he still volunteered his time to assist with the construction of the wall out of respect for those who gave all in Vietnam.

With the addition of six names added in 2010 the total is now 58,272 names listed on the Memorial. Approximately 1200 of these are listed as missing.

No civilians are named on the wall. The Memorial is dedicated to the 2.7 million men and women in the U.S. military who served in the designated war zone during the Vietnam War.

The final section of The Wall That Heals is installed Wednesday morning.

Servicemen and women from DAFB volunteer their time to honor the lives of those lost in the Vietnam War.

Brayton Tetz, 14 of Fairfax, VA helps setup the brackets which will hold the lights on The Wall That Heals Wednesday.

Vietnam Veterans of Delaware members made sure The Wall That Heals arrived in Dover safely Tuesday.

Workers from Dover Air Force base begin setting up The Wall That Heals upon arrival in Dover Tuesday

Vietnam Vets examine the information on display Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Park in Dover.

The Wall That Heals, a mobile half-sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., arrived at Veterans Memorial Park in Dover Tuesday, escorted by police and many vets on motorcycles, just as a C-17 flies overhead.

Followed by a line of Vietnam Veterans follow closely behind The Wall That Heals as it makes its way towards Dover Air Force Base along US 13.

Escorted by a team of State Police and Dover Police on motorbikes, The Wall That Heals travels down US 13 Tuesday on its way to Veterans Memorial Park in Dover where it will be on display through Sunday.

Once the truck arrived at Veterans Memorial Park Tuesday, the vets who escorted it to Dover examine the photos, map and information in the side window panels.

Motorcyclists escorting The Wall That Heals make the right from South Little Creek Road into Veterans Memorial Park Tuesday.

DOVER — Hundreds of people gathered at the “Wall that Heals” Thursday morning under cloudy skies to pay respects to those who died in the Vietnam War.

The traveling wall is a replica, about half the size of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. Panels list the names, in order of date of death, of more than 58,000 service men and women.

The Wall that Heals will be open to the public today and Saturday, 24 hours a day, on the grounds next to the Kent County Veterans Memorial Park on South Little Creek Road in Dover for people to reflect.

For John Rowan, national president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, he thinks it is also important that Americans think about the thousands of names not on the wall.

Mr. Rowan was one of a number of speakers at an opening ceremony held by Kent County Chapter 850 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

“These are the most public names,” he said. “We know who they are. It’s the ones we don’t know who also made sacrifices in Vietnam. After the war, many more Vietnam veterans have passed on.”

After reading a passage called “The Other Side of the Wall,” he talked about lives impacted by suicide and cancers from Agent Orange.

In particular, he wanted to mention a friend, Jimmy Harbeson, who had died of cancer.

Mr. Harbeson, he said, was one of the founders of the Vietnam Veterans Delaware council and “helped build the Wall.”

The Wall, said Mr. Rowan, is symbolic of the unfortunate aspect of war — “those we lost.”

“It’s the most visible sign of our loss,” Mr. Rowan said. “I think that’s the one thing that people get when they go to the Vietnam Wall.

“This may be a smaller version, but it’s the same number of names.”

Paul Davis, president of the Delaware Vietnam Veterans of America, welcomed hundreds of people to the ceremony Thursday,

“First, I’d like to acknowledge our brothers and sisters who are in attendance today that were actually in Vietnam,” said Mr. Davis. “I just want to say, ‘welcome home,’ For those of you who are here today and had a family member who was lost in the war, I just want to say to you publicly that you are now in our family. Our family will always exist. Our family will look up at those on that wall who gave their life for this country.”

Lawrence Kirby, executive director of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs, told the gathering that a wall usually is thought of as something that divides, whether it be neighbors’ yards or a country that did not want communism.

“The Wall that Heals is different,” he said. “It eliminates barriers through the intricate listing of names.”

He said veterans read the names and think about friendships and conversations from barracks and chow halls and thoughts about returning home.

For family members it brings back memories of their children, how they looked in uniform.

“This wall is powerful,” Mr. Kirby said. “It is my wish that families and veterans are brought together in peace by its healing properties,

“Each name identifies a hero.”