March 03, 2020
******Due to COVID-19, several Johns Creek Recreation & Parks events, programs, and activities have been cancelled or suspended. The Wall That Heals event on March 28 will be rescheduled. Please check the city website for updated information.
The Wall That Heals, a 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, has a permanent home in the City of Johns Creek at Newtown Park and opens to the public Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m.
The grand opening ceremony will honor veterans from all branches of the Untited States Armed Forces currently fighting or have fought for our nation.
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and features speakers: John King, Major General in the U.S. Army National Guard and Georgia Insurance Commissioner; Lt. Col. Mike Mizell, Johns Creek Veterans Association President; Col. Rick White, President of the Georgia Veterans Hall of Fame; and Lenny Zaprowski, Mayor Pro Tem. Attendees will also enjoy musical presentations by the Mount Pisgah School Chorus and the Georgia Sensations.
“We are very honored to be the new permanent home of The Wall That Heals,” said Mayor Mike Bodker. “We will never be able to repay those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country; however, we can keep their memory alive and demonstrate our deep respect and gratitude by creating this permanent monument as part of the Veterans Memorial Walk.”
The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
The installation of the Wall would not have been possible without the generosity of donors who shared their time, money, and services, with the common goal of creating a memorable and enduring Wall that Heals exhibit. These donors include: Charity Guild of Johns Creek, Development Authority of Fulton County, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Jacobs Engineering, James Bell, John and Cori Davenport, John Bucket, Leadership Johns Creek, Render Freeman, Sawnee EMC, UPS Foundation, and the Wells Fargo Foundation.
The Wall was originally brought to Johns Creek for a week-long visit in 2017. This was made possible by the Knights of Columbus Assembly of St. Brigid Catholic Church, who originated the request on behalf of the City of Johns Creek and the Johns Creek Veterans Association.
About the half-scale replica of the Wall that Heals
The replica Wall is approximately 250 feet in length and like the original memorial is erected in a chevron-shape. The replica is constructed of powder-coated aluminum, supported by an aluminum frame, and is made up of 24 individual panels, each containing six columns of names.
The names on The Wall That Heals replicate the names on Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. As on the Wall, the names are listed alphabetically by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back to the center/apex. Thus, the beginning and ending of the conflict are joined at the center, signifying an epoch in American history.
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