The Wall That Heals is coming to Livingston County this summer.

The Livingston County Board of Commissioners last week approved a resolution in support of the traveling memorial that honors veterans of the Vietnam War. The Disabled American Veterans or DAV Chapter 125 and Auxiliary 125 are hosting the replica, which will arrive on August 22nd at the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport. After set up, it will be open 24-hours a day for public viewing from August 23rd through the 26th. Security will be on site. The wall will be arriving from Ohio and details for an escort are being worked out but the general path is expected to include US-23, and then down Grand River through Brighton and Howell to the airport.

Livingston County will be the only Michigan presentation in 2018. Various DAV representatives were in attendance and thanked commissioners for all of the support, as well as help in securing the Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy Airport as the event location. Commissioners all agreed that hosting the replica is huge for the county and thanked the DAV for putting it together.

The traveling replica has 58,318 names of those killed in action and features various educational aspects, including artifacts from The Wall in Washington D.C. and a trailer with computer panels that can be programed to feature local veterans. Senior Vice Commander for DAV 125 Auxiliary Paul Desha is serving as co-chair of The Wall That Heals program and project. He tells WHMI it’s going to be a significant event for Livingston County and help and support from the community will be sought in terms of volunteers, sponsorships and those willing to host fundraising events. He says education is a big part of the event and they want Vietnam Veterans to sit down and share their stories to help educate youth on what the war was about and what the wall represents. Desha says there will be opening and closing ceremonies, an Agent Orange awareness program, as well as a day dedicated to focusing on military first responders.

Meanwhile, Desha says part of the program with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation in Washington D.C. is a search for photographs of every name on the Wall. Those wanting more information or wishing to submit photos can do so via email at: twthHowell@gmail.com. (JM)