Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center spreads healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War.

The City of Watseka is hosting "The Wall That Heals" next month. And local organizers need volunteers to make the visit a welcome experience. Promotions Coordinator Wayne Lehmann tells 94.1 WGFA News volunteers can help with assisting visitors, manning the information tent and security.

The Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce has information. Volunteers can also contact Volunteer Outreach Coordinator Bob Burd at 815-432-5240.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with a mobile Education Center, is coming to Watseka on June 9 with a welcome ceremony at 5:00 p.m. at Brianna Drive and Elm Street. Construction of the Wall will occur on the 10th and will be open on the 11th through the 14th, closing at 2:00 p.m. It is free to the public. The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces during the Vietnam War and its walls bear the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most visited memorial in our Nation's Capital, with more than four million visitors each year. However, many Americans have not been able to visit what has become known to many as "The Wall." The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), the organization that built The Wall, wants to give all veterans and their family members all across America an opportunity to see the Memorial.

"Taking The Wall That Heals on the road gives thousands more veterans and their family members an opportunity to see The Wall and honor those who have served and sacrificed so much," said Jim Knotts, CEO of VVMF. "It helps veterans from all of America's conflicts to find healing and a powerful connection through their common military experiences."

Since its debut in 1996, more than two million people have visited The Wall That Heals sites. It has made stops in nearly 400 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005. Hosting The Wall That Heals provides a community with a multi-day experience that includes an educational experience for local schools and organizations on the history of the Vietnam era and The Wall. The exhibit includes a mobile Education Center comprised of: photos of service members whose names are found on The Wall; letters and memorabilia left at The Wall in D.C.; a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the conflict in Vietnam. The exhibits tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict, and are designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a historical and cultural context.

The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours a day beginning June 11. There is no charge for admission. There are opportunities for volunteers from the community to help during the event.

If you are interested in assisting, call Bob Burd (815) 432-5240. For more information, contact Sherry Johnson at Watseka Park District (815) 432-3931 or visit us on Facebook.

VVMF coordinates local stops of The Wall That Heals and the accompanying mobile Education Center. The current schedule and more information can be found at: www.thewallthatheals.org.

The 2015 national The Wall That Heals tour is generously sponsored by: USAA, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Trust, FedEx, and Geico. Local sponsors include the City of Watseka, T & D Metals, Miner Charitable Foundation, The First Trust & Savings Bank of Watseka, and Iroquois Federal Savings & Loan Association.

94.1 WGFA