BLYTHEWOOD (March 17, 2016) – Organizers bringing The Wall that Heals to Doko Park in Blythewood this Memorial Day are calling for 104 volunteers to each work three-hour shifts during the four 24-hour days the exhibit will be open from May 26 – 30.
“We’re 10 weeks out now, and we’re about where we need to be,” Town Councilman Eddie Baughman told Council members at a workshop Tuesday morning. “But we’re going to have to have a lot of volunteers step up real soon to make this happen. It’s a very large event that could bring as many as 20,000 visitors to Blythewood during those four days.
“That’s a lot of people to be patronizing our businesses while they’re in town,” Baughman said, “buying gas, eating at our restaurants, visiting our shops and, hopefully, staying overnight in our hotels. I think it will be a great opportunity to welcome so many people to our town.”
Baughman, a Vietnam War veteran, suggested last fall that Council bring The Wall to Blythewood.
The exhibit features a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. The chevron-shaped wall is made up of 24 panels that will stretch across approximately 250 feet of lawn in the park next to Town Hall.
The wall is accompanied by a mobile Education Center that tells the story of the Vietnam War and the era surrounding the conflict and includes displays of photos of service members whose names are found on The Wall, along with letters and memorabilia left at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
The exhibit will also include a map of Vietnam a and a chronological overview of the conflict.
Anyone wishing to volunteer their time during the event should contact Hazel Kelly at Town Hall at 754-0501.
