Organizers pleased with turnout, interest in The Wall That Heals at official kickoff event

Residents bringing The Wall That Heals to Emporia this upcoming summer are heartened by the turnout they saw at the official kickoff event Saturday.

Organizer Richelle Birk says the atmosphere is long overdue for Vietnam veterans.

Fellow organizer Clay Childs says this signals a great start to the effort.

Organizer Ed Rathke says Saturday’s turnout, and the community interest leading up to Saturday, means a sigh of relief for the team.

House 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia says, “Listening to the veterans’ stories of their time in Vietnam reinforced with me that all veterans deserve our respect. I appreciate the people who organized today’s kickoff and the work of American Legion Post 5 and the veterans who are bringing the Wall to Emporia.” Those sentiments are shared by Lyon County Commission Chair Ken Duft.

The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-size replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC, will be just west of Emporia’s American Legion Post 5 when it comes to town Aug. 14-17.

More information is available at thewallthathealsemporia.com.

Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News