The traveling Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, “The Wall That Heals” visited Venice from March 2-6, 2016. Venice Paparazzi was on the scene at the arrival, volunteer set up, and ceremony! View event highlights below!
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On March 4th, 2016, City Councilmember Mike Bonin and Senator Ben Allen joined a group of community leaders from the Venice Chamber of Commerce and Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to celebrate the honor of having been offered an installation. Venice Chamber President welcomed the small crowd with a moment of silence in honor of all those who lost their lives in service of our country and Superintendent of the Venice Beach Recreational Area, Bob Davis spoke for the increased efforts under his stewardship to provide healthy, diverse options for the community. Council Member Bonin took the occasion to speak to the importance of providing solutions for the issue of homelessness amongst members of our local veteran community and Senator Allen reinforced those sentiments by sharing legislative initiatives designed to protect veterans and offered his testimony of the unprecedented level of cooperation across all levels of government to alleviate the issue of homelessness amongst veterans. The Venice Chamber of Commerce hosted the event with Veterans Foundation Inc, a 35 year old nonprofit organization, and enjoyed tremendous support from the New Directions program as well as local businesses and citizens.
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About The Wall that Heals: The exhibition features a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that is permanently located Washington, D.C. Its main components are The Wall replica and the mobile Education Center. It is approximately 250 feet in length, and like the original Memorial is erected in a chevron-shape. The replica is constructed of powder-coated aluminum, supported by an aluminum frame, and is made up of 24 individual panels. The exterior sides of the trailer that carries The Wall That Heals open to become a mobile Education Center. Information cases display photos of service members whose names are found on The Wall, along with letters and memorabilia left at The Wall in D.C. The Museum also includes a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the conflict in Vietnam.
Bringing The Wall home to communities throughout our country allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist once more among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings. The traveling exhibit provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin. For more information please visit www.vvmf.org.
Councilman Mike Bonin
Chamber President Carl Lambert
Senator Ben Allen
Venice Beach Recreation’s superintendent Bob Davis
Councilman Mike Bonin, Vice President George Francisco, Chamber President Carl Lambert, and Senator Ben Allen. Thank you George for producing and bring the “Wall That Heals” to Venice!
(Right) Venice Beach Suites & Hotel owner and veteran Andy Layman and wife Ann Marie
Vietnam Veteran Dennis G. Blessman
Arlene Rodriguez and Richard Acosta find their family member Juan Luis Terrazas on the wall
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Click here to view all photos! You can also view the slideshow below!
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GET INVOLVED!
There are more than 58,000 names on The Wall. Every single one of them has a story that you can help keep alive. Visit www.vvmf.org to learn how you can help honor the memory of our veterans.
The traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial may be coming to your town! View 2016 tour schedule!
