Timothy Chapman
04/17/2023
From Thursday to Sunday, “The Wall That Heals” will be coming to the City of Edinburg Ebony Golf Course, in conjunction with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website, “The Wall That Heals” is a traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. that tours the country with a mobile education center.
Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Garcia said the wall creates an emotional connection to those who view it.
“It’s a wall of healing that we call because of the fact that all the names of all the veterans that passed away that were killed in action or missing in action, their names are there. So, it allows military families and even the community to go out there and witness and see what took place during that time,” Garcia said.
Garcia said there will be a parade leading the way from when the wall arrives in Edinburg to where it will sit on display.
“I’m actually a member of the patriot guard riders also, so that’s why we’re going to receive [the wall that heals] also. So, I’m working as a patriot guard rider and we’re actually leading the procession of the wall,” Garcia said.
Assistant Director of Cultural Arts Magdiel Castle said there is an application process that venues wishing to host the wall must go through and UTRGV, along with the City of Edinburg, was finally selected to host this exhibit.
“The university had been trying to apply for this for the wall to come down here a couple of times and there is only 100 applications that are reviewed each year and we were selected,” Castle said.
“The Wall That Heals” will be open 24 hours a day free of charge.For more information about “The Wall that Heals” and the other programs that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund has, visit its website at vvmf.org
