The Wall That Heals is a ¾ scale (375’ long) replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (aka The Wall) that will travel to 29 communities across the Country in 2022; Knoxville is stop number 5 on its tour.
It will arrive at Lynnhurst Cemetery, 2300 W. Adair Dr. at 3:00pm on Tuesday, April 19 with a 100+ motorcycle escort. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will be there to greet the Wall and the riders.
The Wall That Heals will be erected by a team of volunteers starting at 8:30am on Wednesday, April 20. It will take 6 – 8 hours to complete the assembly.
The Opening Ceremony for The Wall That Heals will take place at 10:00am on Thursday, April 21. The keynote speaker will be Captain Bill Robinson, United States Air Force (Ret.), the longest held enlisted Prisoner of War in U.S. military history. He was imprisoned by the North Vietnamese for 7 ½ years. Other dignitaries will include Knoxville Mayor, Indya Kincannon, Knox County Mayor, Glenn Jacobs, and 2nd District Congressman, Tim Burchett.
The Central High School band will perform the National Anthem and a medley of patriotic music during the wreath presentations.
The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms to become a mobile Education Center. The exhibits at the Education Center give visitors a better understanding of the Vietnam War and the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
There will be a special Quilts of Valor ceremony at 11:00am, Saturday April 23 in the adjacent Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home Chapel. These quilts are presented to Veterans who have been touched by war. This is open to the public.
At 10:00am Sunday, April 24, a typical Chaplain led field worship service will be held in the Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home chapel. This is also open to the public.
The Wall That Heals will be open, staffed and free to the public 24 hours/day until it closes on Sunday at 2:00pm. It will then be disassembled by a team of volunteers, packed back into the truck and head to its next stop on the tour. Parking and free shuttle service to and from the cemetery is generously provided by the Food City grocery at the corner of Broadway and Adair. The shuttle will be available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Parking is available in the Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home parking lot during the overnight hours.
