DEVENS, MA | JULY 25-28, 2024
The Wall That Heals
WHAT IS THE WALL THAT HEALS
The Wall That Heals exhibit features a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.
Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.
As on The Wall, the names on The Wall That Heals are listed by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back in to the center/apex, joining the beginning and end of the conflict at the center.
The Wall That Heals
July 25th - July 28
59 Buena Vista Street, Devens Ma
Event Schedule
Tuesday, July 23rd Motorcycle Escort
Starting Point: North Middlesex Regional High School, Townsend, MA
10:00 AM: Staging
12:00 PM: KSU Sharp
Route:
- Take a left out of school parking lot onto MA-119E for 4.5 miles
- Turn right onto Mill St. and continue for 1.1 miles
- Take a slight right onto MA-111 S Farmers Row for 3.6 miles
- Turn right onto West Main St. for 1.1 miles
- Turn left onto Jackson Rd. through the back gates of Devens Ride past the fire station Left onto Barnum At the lights, take a right onto Patton Take Patton all the way until the next set of lights Take a right back onto Jackson Rd. Continue all the way to Buena Vista
Ending Point: Rodgers Field
Wednesday, July 24th - Set up and Soft Opening
8:00 AM: Trained volunteers arrive to conduct the setup of the wall.
11:30 AM: Clear Path (Donna Bulger) will deliver boxed lunches to the field for the volunteers. Water and soda will be provided.
2:00 PM: Soft opening (wall will be open continuously through Sunday)
Thursday, July 25th - Welcoming Ceremony
10:00 AM:
MC: Joseph Cunningham
Agenda:
- Posting of the Colors: Organization TBD
- Pledge of Allegiance: Joseph Cunningham
- National Anthem: Performed by TBD
- Military Fly Over: Immediately following the National Anthem
- Opening Prayer: Chaplain (MAJ) Bryan Hedrick (confirmed)
- Welcome on Behalf of the Town of Devens/Mass Dev/Ayer: Speaker TBD
- Welcome: State Representative Dan Sena
- Welcome to the Wall: Speaker TBD
- Wreath Laying: Executor TBD
- Introduction of Main Speaker: Joseph Cunningham
- Main Speaker: Jon Santiago, Secretary of Massachusetts Veterans Services
- Closing Prayer: Pastor TBD (Devens Chaplain or move to the last day)
- Retire the Colors: Organization TBD
Saturday, July 27th - Remembrance Ceremony
6:30 PM
MC: Joseph Cunningham
Agenda:
- Invitation to Reflect: Joseph Cunningham
- Missing Man Ceremony: TBD
- Thank You: TBD
- Final Thoughts and Introduction of Guest Speaker: Joseph Cunningham
- Guest Speaker(s): TBD
- Retire the Colors: Organization TBD
- Taps and Rifle Salute: Ms. Elaine D'alessandro (details to be confirmed)
- Dismiss: MC Joseph Cunningham
Sunday, July 28th, 2PM Closing Ceremony
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Clear Path for Veterans New England (Clear Path NE) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2017 with a mission to create a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for Veterans to seamlessly integrate into their communities. Our organization operates under a licensing agreement with Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango, NY, which allows us to customize their name, logo, and programs to cater specifically to our geographic area.
For the past few years, this was Trees for Soldiers, an even smaller group that gave free trees to veterans and active duty service members at Christmas time. Well, we’ve grown!
Our mission now, and name change, means will be doing beautification projects around the twin cities of Leominster and Fitchburg, and of course to continue with the tree project for our service members.
Volunteer
Your help is needed. We are looking for volunteers for a variety of different roles through this fantastic event!
SPONSORS
Thank you to the generosity of our sponsors
