The Wall That Heals is a smaller version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It travels throughout the country in tribute to Americans killed in the Vietnam War. (Photo provided)

To read this story, please sign in with your email address and password.

You've read all your free stories this month. Subscribe now and unlock unlimited access to our stories, exclusive subscriber content, additional newsletters, invitations to special events, and more.


Subscribe

People are encouraged to line the sidewalks and parking lots along West Republic Road around noon on Tuesday, June 6, to show support for the military veterans who are giving a motorcycle escort for the Wall That Heals as it makes its way to Springfield.

The Wall That Heals is a Vietnam Memorial replica that will be on display June 8-11 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 922 W. Republic Rd. 

The motorcycle escort will travel from Monett on U.S. Highway 60, turning on to State Route M in Republic. Route M turns into Republic Road in Springfield.

The wall is expected to arrive at the intersection of Republic Road and West Bypass around noon Tuesday and continue eastbound until it gets to the church, where the wall will be assembled. 

The replica wall and mobile education center will be free to the public and open 24 hours a day while it's in Springfield.

Mike Goforth, Post Commander at American Legion Post 639, volunteered to organize the motorcycle escort. To participate in the escort, he said to be at the VFW Post 4207 in Monett at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. 

“We’re going kickstands up from there at 11 o’clock,” Goforth said. “I’ve got a law enforcement escort to lead us all the way to Wesley United (Methodist) Church in Springfield.”

Goforth expects about 100 bikers to help escort the memorial wall. He hopes to see folks all along the route waving flags and showing support.

The Greene County Sheriff's Office and the Springfield Police Department will also be a part of the escort. Supporting the bikers and visiting the Wall That Heals is an important show of support for Vietnam veterans, Goforth said. 

“People need to get out and line the streets and wave flags,” Goforth said. “Because it shows them how much we appreciate what they’ve done, even though they weren’t treated correctly when they got home (from war).”

In the past, Post 639 has hosted a Vietnam Memorial replica. This particular replica wall is a bit bigger than the one that came to Post 639 in the past.

The Wall That Heals is coming to Springfield as a project of Serenity Honors.




Jackie Rehwald

Jackie Rehwald is a reporter at the Hauxeda. She covers public safety, the courts, homelessness, domestic violence and other social issues. Her office line is 417-837-3659. More by Jackie Rehwald