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The Wall That Heals has been installed in its home for the next few days-- the Chisago Lakes High School sports field complex.

Volunteers who are assisting visitors at the site attended orientation Wednesday. Field trips for students and other large groups are taking place this Thursday and Friday. The color guard flag raising took place Thursday morning. So far all is well at the wall.

There are two special ceremonies commemorating this installation and honoring all veterans-- there's a jet fly-over and celebration at the Chisago Lakes High School stadium, a few feet from where the replica wall is located, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. And, Sunday, Sept. 13 a community worship service and closing ceremony is being held at 2 p.m., also at the high school stadium.

The site is south of downtown Lindstrom off Olinda Trail (DQ intersection) at 295th Street, watch for sign.

The Wall That Heals is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. It is open to the public to tour 24 hours a day.

The wall coordinator explained that donations are welcomed. There is no taxpayer support for this exhibit or the works that are done relative to this. All funding supports the wall exhibit but there are various other causes.

"Operation Renew" helps Vietnamese veterans living in Vietnam, who served in the war, to receive replacement limbs. The program has built two schools in the former war zone. Funds are also going towards an "education center" being built to interpret all the memorials in Washington D.C.

The revenues also help fund teams who travel to Vietnam to remove unexploded ordinance. Villagers are paid to recycle the metal in the devices as well.

The exhibit has information about the Vietnam Conflict and has resources to learn more about servicepeople. Forms are available at this installation, which you can fill out, and an actual graphite rubbing of the name of a serviceperson on the D.C. wall will be made for you and mailed to you. Rubbings are not allowed at the Chisago Lakes exhibit.

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