Wall That Heals makes its historic debut in American Canyon
Retired U.S. military soldiers shook hands, exchanging battalion titles as they walked toward the granite wall. Some brushed their hands along the panels, somberly finding the grooves of each name. Some clutched flags folded into triangles or cradled kids in their arms. Many donned full uniforms or memorabilia from foreign wars — Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam.
Upwards of 70 people made their way to Independence Park on Thursday for the opening ceremony of the Wall That Heals, a 375-foot granite replica of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Washington, D.C., carved with 58,281 names of American soldiers who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.
Each year, the wall makes its way across the country through 31 cities, bringing the opportunity to honor a generation of soldiers who gave their lives in one of the U.S.’s longest wars, lasting from 1955-1975.
“You still have 2 million Vietnam veterans that are alive,” said Tim Tetz, director of outreach for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which runs the memorial. He noted the importance of bringing the memorial from city to city for people to experience.
“For decades, we didn’t treat them right. Finally, we have an opportunity to gather together as a community and welcome them home.”
This year, American Canyon was chosen to be that welcome home, one of 140 applicants to be among 31 cities to host the wall. It’s the wall’s sole stop in Northern California. It will remain open to the public at Independence Park for 24 hours a day until Sunday, Oct. 19, at around 3 p.m.
Thursday evening’s ceremony included words from Mayor Pierre Washington, Councilmember Brando Cruz and a song from American Canyon High School’s Public Display of Acapella.
As the night progressed, the wall became a gathering place for American Canyon residents.
Tetz said he’s been floored by the city’s responsiveness.
“American Canyon, from the mayor down to every staff member — they’re awesome,” he said. “We don’t get that in every community. When you see that, the ability to rally as a community, you know it’s gonna be a special week.”
Liz Carter, a Vallejo resident, has been volunteering at the site since it arrived on Tuesday, Oct. 14. She said she’s been following the movements of the Wall That Heals since 2019, the year her father passed. He was a Vietnam veteran.
“My dad was private about it,” said Carter. When she began to learn more about what he had been through, she discovered the Wall That Heals. Before today, she’d never seen it in person.
“This year, I was watching the tour schedule. I said, ‘Oh my God!’ It’s American Canyon! It’s like watching a band. This is the closest it’s come. [My dad] would’ve been here. So, I came.”
According to volunteers, the Wall That Heals took more than six hours to set up, taking up a football-field sized corner of the grassy block. But the entire installation is more than just the wall; it’s also a museum. The rig that contains the wall on its road trip across the U.S. unfolds into panels for visitors to get a deeper insight into a soldier’s life in Vietnam.
One side of the truck holds panels that display some of the 400,000 items people have left behind at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.: baby clothes, boots, returned packages, notes. Walk around the truck and you’ll catch a slideshow of “hometown heroes,” photos of the young men who came from cities around Napa County and lost their lives in the war.
Throughout the rest of the evening, clusters of locals strolled in and out of the park, some stumbling on the memorial accidentally. A few brought their kids along to learn.
“It’s history,” said Nancy Link, a fourth-grade teacher at Canyon Oak Elementary. She had brought up the Vietnam memorial to her class earlier that day.
“It brought up a whole thing,” she told the Current. “One of the fourth graders asked me why weren’t the veterans treated well when they came back.” So, she filled them in.
“War is ugly. And sometimes people don’t always agree with it. But the people who serve our country need to be respected.”
Upcoming events at the Wall That Heals
Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. – In Memory Ceremony
During the ceremony, The Wall That Heals will be lit teal for PTSD awareness. The closure includes words from Congressman Mike Thompson and Napa County Supervisor Belia Ramos.
Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. – Closing Ceremony
