The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, is coming to Athens, Alabama on November 6-9, 2025 at Beasley Field on the campus of Athens State University. The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The Wall will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.
The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history.
The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors are able to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.
The mobile Education Center exhibit includes: digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes” – service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died; video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the In Memory plaque; a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War. 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.
Schedule of Events
The Wall That Heals will arrive at Beasley Field at Athens State University (415 E Hobbs Street, Athens, AL) on Tuesday, November 4 and open to the public on Thursday, November 6 where it will remain open 24 hours a day. The Wall will close at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 9. The full schedule of events includes:
Tuesday, November 4
The Wall That Heals will be escorted via motorcade from the Elk River Boat Launch (19951 Hwy 72, Rogersville, AL) to Beasley Field at Athens State University (415 E Hobbs Street, Athens, AL). A map of the escort route can be found at www.thewallthathealsathens.org.
- Meet at Elk River Boat Launch for Escort at 11:00 am
- Safety Briefing at 11:45 am
- Kickstands Up at 12:00 pm
- The Wall That Heals Arrives at Athens State around 1:00 pm
Wednesday, November 5
- Construction of The Wall That Heals begins at 8:30 am
- Volunteer shifts begin at 2:00 pm
- Volunteer Training at 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 6
- The Wall That Heals will open 24 hours a day to visitors, rain or shine, beginning immediately following the Opening Ceremony.
- Opening Ceremony at 8:30 am – This ceremony is free and open to the public.
- Guided Tours begin at 11:00 am
- Taps will be played at Sunset
Friday, November 7
- The Wall That Heals is open 24 hours a day to visitors, rain or shine.
- PTSD Awareness Ceremony at 6:00 pm – This ceremony is free and open to the public.
- Taps will be played at the conclusion of the PTSD Awareness Ceremony
Saturday, November 8
- The Wall That Heals is open 24 hours a day to visitors, rain or shine.
- Taps will be played at Sunset
Sunday, November 9
- Closing Ceremony at 1:45 pm – This ceremony is free and open to the public.
- Taps will be played at 2:00 pm
- The Wall That Heals closes to the public at 2:00 pm.
Volunteers
Hosting The Wall That Heals is a tremendous privilege – and it requires tremendous community support.
The Wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day during its time at Athens State. To ensure that every visitor has a meaningful, respectful, and safe experience, we are seeking dedicated volunteers to help support the exhibit around the clock.
Volunteer roles include:
- Greeters and guides
- Parking and traffic assistants
- Overnight watch and site security
- Set-up and take-down crews
- Support for ceremonies and special events
- Volunteer check-in and hospitality
- Mobile Education Center assistants
If you would like to support The Wall That Heals by volunteering, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0445A4AC28A6F85-54919250-thewall#/
For more information about The Wall That Heals, please visit www.thewallthathealsathens.org.