Remembering the brave: Traveling wall and field of flags honors soldiers
Spanning 375 feet, the traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a stark reminder of the sacrifices made in one of the nation’s most controversial conflicts.
Dubbed “The Wall That Heals,” the traveling replica offers veterans a chance to reflect on their service and fellow soldiers lost in the war. It also provides an opportunity to heal old wounds for veterans who faced a less-than-welcoming crowd when they returned to American soil more than 50 years ago.
Through Memorial Day, the traveling wall will be on display at Randall Oaks Park in West Dundee. It is the second time in five years that the wall has stopped in West Dundee.
“When Vietnam War veterans came home more than 50 years ago it wasn’t like it is now where people thank everyone for their service,” said Jerry Christopherson, president and founder of True Patriots Care, which partnered with the Carpentersville/Dundee American Legion Post 679 to bring the wall to West Dundee. “When the Vietnam veterans came home, they were treated terribly.
“We’re trying to heal that wound and thank them for their service and finally welcome them home,” he added.
Christopherson said often, soldiers sit quietly by the wall, reflecting on their fellow soldiers or friends lost in the war. He recalled the last time the wall stopped in West Dundee, a veteran visited the wall for a short time and then brought his family back each of the days it was there.
“That was the first time he talked and told them what he did in the service,” Christopherson said.
The wall will be open to visitors around the clock until it is dismantled and moved on to its next stop. A candlelight service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday along with special services on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. A brief closing ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Monday.
Volunteers also will be available throughout the weekend to help visitors locate the names of loved ones on the wall. Paper and pencils also will be available for those wishing to make a rubbing of their loved one’s name.
In addition to the wall, a field of 1,578 flags will remember each of the prisoners of war or soldiers missing in action from the Vietnam War.
In Cary, a field of 350 flags will be erected to remember men and women from Illinois who lost their lives in active duty. Each flag has a name attached to it to remember a fallen soldier. The display is hosted by the Veterans Network Committee of Northern Illinois.
An opening ceremony for the Field of the Fallen will be held at 5 p.m. Friday. A closing ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Monday.
The display, which is located near Georgetown Drive and Three Oaks Road in Cary, will be open to the public the entire time and will be staffed by volunteers throughout the weekend.