The Wall That Heals—a traveling, three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that tours the country along with a mobile education center—is scheduled to be on display in Dare County from November 16, 2023 to November 19, 2023, and the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council encourages those who have lost a loved one that served in the Vietnam War to honor their veteran through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory program.
About the In Memory Program:
Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have died each year due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD/suicide, cancer and other causes. In an effort to honor these veterans, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund created the In Memory program, which provides a way for family members and friends to honor those who returned home from Vietnam and later passed away.
When a Vietnam veteran is honored through the In Memory program, their photo will be included on a display within the mobile education center alongside other images of other honorees from the state in which “The Wall That Heals” exhibit is on display. In order for a local veteran to be included in the In Memory Honor Roll display when The Wall That Heals comes to Nags Head in November 2023, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund must receive the application by October 16, 2023.
Eligibility Requirements:
The In Memory program honors all Vietnam veterans who have passed and enables the families and friends of those who came home and later died the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized. The In Memory program is inclusive to honor all Vietnam veterans, regardless of their cause of death. For more information about the In Memory program, please click here to download a flyer.
Veterans do not have to be from Dare County or have lived in the area during the time of their service in order to be honored through the In Memory program and have their name and photo displayed when The Wall That Heals comes to Dare County in November. Veterans who returned from the Vietnam War and later relocated to Dare County or retired in the area before their passing are also eligible for inclusion.
To ensure your loved one is honored and their name and photo are properly displayed, please be sure to list the local location with which they had the greatest connection on the In Memory program application form.
Please Note: Only Vietnam veterans whose hometown/home state are listed as being within North Carolina will be honored on the Honor Roll display when The Wall That Heals is on exhibit in Dare County. Honorees whose hometown/home state are listed as being outside of North Carolina will have their name and photo displayed if The Wall That Heals travels to the state that is listed on their application form.
How to Apply:
The application can be completed online or printed out and mailed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Attention: In Memory Program, 3033 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201. In addition to completing an application form, applicants must also provide the following documentation in order to be accepted into the In Memory program:
- A DD214 (or other record that provides proof of service in the Vietnam War)
- A death certificate
- Two clear photographs of the honoree (the VVMF recommends one photo from the Vietnam era and one photo that is more recent, if possible)
If you are unable to complete the application yourself and do not have a family member available to help you, please contact Dare County Veterans Services Officer Patty O’Sullivan at 252-475-5604 (office) or 252-473-7749 (cell) and she will be happy to assist you.