As setup continues at the Emporia American Legion Post 5 on Wednesday, people are also looking ahead to The Wall That Heals officially opening up for public display Thursday.
Opening ceremonies begin at the Legion at 9 am. Part of that will include a new poem from Emporian and Vietnam veteran Jerry Laurendine.
Laurendine says he can’t wait for the wall to be up and running.
Setup actually began shortly after the display got to Emporia on Tuesday as the apex, or the highest point of the wall, was set. Official setup began around 8 am following a huge escort of motorcycles, classic cars, military vehicles, law enforcement vehicles and fire trucks as well as an impressive turnout of residents along US Highway 50 once the wall got to Emporia.
The wall is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC, and it bears the names of the better than 58,000 American soldiers who died during the war. Organized by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the exhibit also includes a mobile education center.
Emporia is among 31 stops on this year’s tour. This is the 30th year for The Wall That Heals tours across the country.
KVOE.com’s news coverage will have photos from The Wall That Heals, while KVOE’s YouTube channel will originate our video coverage heading to our other social media platforms. Click here for KVOE News’ coverage from Tuesday.
