Story and Slideshow: Wall That Heals Wraps Up Ohio Valley Stay
More Than 8K Visit Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Adena resident and Wall That Heals volunteer Elijah Foldi Sr. does a name rubbing for a visitor with help from his son Elijah Foldi Jr., 5, on Sunday, the wall's final day in Belmont County. Foldi is a Marine Corps veteran.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Maryana and Dick Strickler of Wheeling visit the Wall That Heals on Sunday in St. Clairsville.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Special signage at the Wall That Heals pointed out the local soldiers who died during the Vietnam War. Shown here is a sign and photo for the late Frederick M. Koss of Bridgeport. He served in the Air Force and died July 7, 1972.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli makes remarks during the closing ceremony of the Wall That Heals on Sunday in St. Clairsville.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Mitch Kuster of Cambridge, an Air Force veteran, on Sunday stands with the Wall That Heals rubbing of the late U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Melvin Holland of Washington State's name. He died during the Vietnam War.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) The Wall That Heals Site Manager Tim Tetz tells the crowd on Sunday during the closing ceremony that about 8,000 people visited the site during the past five days during its visit to Belmont County.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) The Wall That Heals volunteers Cheryl and Larry Barnes attend the final day and closing ceremony Sunday for the Vietnam War Memorial Wall replica's visit to Belmont County.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Adena resident and Wall That Heals volunteer Elijah Foldi Sr. does a name rubbing for a visitor with help from his son Elijah Foldi Jr., 5, on Sunday, the wall's final day in Belmont County. Foldi is a Marine Corps veteran.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Maryana and Dick Strickler of Wheeling visit the Wall That Heals on Sunday in St. Clairsville.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Special signage at the Wall That Heals pointed out the local soldiers who died during the Vietnam War. Shown here is a sign and photo for the late Frederick M. Koss of Bridgeport. He served in the Air Force and died July 7, 1972.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli makes remarks during the closing ceremony of the Wall That Heals on Sunday in St. Clairsville.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Mitch Kuster of Cambridge, an Air Force veteran, on Sunday stands with the Wall That Heals rubbing of the late U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Melvin Holland of Washington State's name. He died during the Vietnam War.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) The Wall That Heals Site Manager Tim Tetz tells the crowd on Sunday during the closing ceremony that about 8,000 people visited the site during the past five days during its visit to Belmont County.
(Photo by Shelley Hanson) The Wall That Heals volunteers Cheryl and Larry Barnes attend the final day and closing ceremony Sunday for the Vietnam War Memorial Wall replica's visit to Belmont County.
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE — More than 8,000 people came to see The Wall That Heals during its visit to St. Clairsville during the past five days, said The Wall That Heals Site Manager Tim Tetz.
The Wall That Heals, which is a 3/4-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., was erected at the Belmont County Fairgrounds for people to see Oct. 1-4. It allowed veterans of the Vietnam War and their families and friends to visit and see the names of loved ones and friends who died fighting in the war.
The wall has 58,318 names on it.
A closing ceremony was held Sunday with remarks by Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli and Tetz and music by JoAnn Copeland.
Before the closing ceremony, volunteer Larry Barnes, a Vietnam veteran, said the week went well at the wall with good attendance and good weather with the exception of one evening with some rain.
“I think our turnout was more than we expected,” said Barnes, who is commander of American Legion Post 159 in St. Clairsville. “Their first time going to the wall, the veterans, they had a lot of memories to share. Finding their buddies on the wall, saying their final goodbye to their buddies. It was a very healing process.”
Barnes said it meant a lot to him to have the wall in Belmont County.
“A lot of memories I tried to forget over the years came flooding back,” he said. “It was hard at first. … A lot of memories I had forgotten over the last 50-some years, all those memories came back. It was tough at times, but it’s also the healing process.”
Barnes said the memories came back when he talked to other veterans and by seeing his friends’ names and all the names on the wall.
“We’re really here to honor them and their families,” he said.
Gianangeli thanked everyone for attending including the veterans and the volunteers who helped put up the wall and man it 24 hours a day during its visit. He also thanked the families of the soldiers who lost their lives during the war.
“Thank you, veterans. Thank you, families for trusting this community with your stories, your memories and in many cases your grief,” he said.
Tetz said the Ohio Valley made a great showing for the wall.
“I’ve been on the road now for 14 years with the Wall That Heals. I’ve been to 150 to 250 sites and this part of America is special,” he said. “All of America turns out for the Wall That Heals, but this part of America is special because this part of America is the part that gave the most of their sons and daughters to this conflict and continues to do this today with the service members we have.
“West Virginia has the most per capita on the wall of any other state. “And Beallsville … gave the most per capita for their community. And so, it’s expected you’re going to get a good turnout, but this was an excellent turnout.”
Tetz thanked all volunteers for making the Wall That Heals happen. He also thanked all the students for coming and for lining the wall’s driving route to its destination.
“At the end of the week, we can take pride in the fact that we had over 8,000 visitors,” he said. “This wall came here to heal and this wall will continue to heal for many years to come.”