The Wall That Heals Veterans Memorial Park - April 2025

The Wall That Heals Visits Whiteville: A Community Remembers

In April 2025, the Veterans Memorial Park of America was humbled and deeply honored to host The Wall That Heals, the traveling, three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Alongside its mobile Education Center, the Wall brought with it not only the names of more than 58,000 fallen heroes, but also a sacred opportunity for remembrance, healing, and unity within our community.

Arrival and Setup

The Wall arrived in Whiteville on Wednesday, April 23, and was welcomed with reverence and anticipation. Volunteers and organizers worked carefully to assemble each panel, ensuring every name was displayed with dignity and respect. That evening, our volunteers gathered for training, ready to serve with compassion—helping families locate the names of loved ones, guiding visitors, and sharing in moments of quiet reflection.

A Welcome Home

On Thursday, April 24, the Wall officially opened to the public. From that day forward, it stood accessible 24 hours a day, a constant reminder that sacrifice and service never rest. That evening, a moving Welcome Home Ceremony gave our community the chance to do what so many veterans had waited decades to hear: to say, at long last, “Welcome home.”

Remembering and Learning

The days that followed were filled with moments of remembrance, healing, and education. On Friday evening, April 25, the Agent Orange Awareness Ceremony shed light on the invisible battles many Vietnam veterans and their families continue to fight.

Throughout the weekend, visitors explored the Education Center, where exhibits honored our local “Hometown Heroes” and shared powerful stories from the In Memory program—ensuring that even those who came home but later passed from service-related causes will never be forgotten. Veterans, students, families, and neighbors walked the Wall together, tracing names, sharing memories, and finding strength in one another.

Closing and Departure

On Sunday, April 27, the community gathered once more for a solemn Closing Ceremony. As the names on the Wall stood in silence, we remembered those who never returned and reaffirmed our promise to keep their legacy alive. When the panels were carefully taken down, they carried with them not just names but the collective love, gratitude, and prayers of a community forever touched by their visit.

A Lasting Impact

Though The Wall That Heals has moved on to its next stop, its impact remains deeply woven into the heart of Whiteville. For many, the visit brought long-awaited closure, a long-overdue “welcome home,” and a sacred space to honor sacrifice. For our community, it strengthened our resolve to not only honor Vietnam veterans, but to continue standing beside all veterans—past, present, and future—who safeguard our freedoms.

The Veterans Memorial Park of America extends heartfelt gratitude to every volunteer, sponsor, and visitor who made this event possible. Together, we welcomed the Wall, and together, we carry forward the responsibility to ensure that the service and sacrifice of our veterans will never be forgotten.