The Wall That Heals

Marian Catholic Hosts THE WALL THAT HEALS

By Allen Marazas '64

The Vietnam War divided Americans much as our 19th Century Civil War. The division was not geographical as then, but generational, and it set our political landscape into the 21st Century. A significant part of this division came from the treatment of returning American service personnel during and after the war by many of those who opposed the war. Veterans were sometimes subjected to public vilification for their role during the war. These veterans fought for America in the same way that “the Greatest Generation” fought in World War II, but they were not treated the same way because of such widespread American opposition to the conflict in Vietnam. The Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., designed by architects Maya Lin and David Osler, was established in 1982 to honor the more than three million American veterans who served in that war by listing the over 58,000 names of those who gave their “last full measure of devotion” in service to their country. The Wall That Heals honors these veterans for their patriotism, loyalty, and courage despite the political turmoil surrounding the war.

This past July, The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. came to Bloom Township and was placed on exhibit at Marian Catholic High School. Marian Catholic President Vince Krydynski '81 was initially contacted by Bloom Township Supervisor TJ Somer in late 2021 about hosting The Wall That Heals during the summer of 2022. President Krydynski, along with the rest of the administrative team, as well as the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, enthusiastically agreed to host the exhibit.

The Wall That Heals arrived at Marian Catholic on July 5; set up began the following day with a host of volunteers from Marian Catholic (including a number of Marian Catholic football players) and others from across the Chicago Heights community. The 53-foot trailer that carried The Wall That Heals transformed into a mobile Education Center featuring a timeline of “The War and The Wall” as well as additional information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Accompanying exhibits give visitors a better understanding of the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the collection of items left at The Wall.

Unveiled on Veterans Day 1996, The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is 375 feet long and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. The Wall honors the more than three million Armed Services Personnel who served in Vietnam by listing the more than 58,000 Americans who died in the conflict. Included in that number are those classified as MIA. The names of those service members declared dead are marked with a diamond and the MIA by a cross. There are still 1244 Americans unaccounted for in Vietnam. The names of eight servicewomen who died in the war are listed as well.

At the opening ceremony on July 7, several veterans and/or their families were present giving a quiet solemnity to the event. In addition, an impressive list of local area leaders were present including Bloom Township Supervisor TJ Somer, State Representative Anthony Deluca, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Glenwood Mayor Ron Gardiner, Bloom Township Committee Person and Cook County Commissioner District 5 Candidate Monica Gordon, Chicago Heights Alderwoman Kelli Merrick, and Bloom Township Highway Commissioner Joe Stanfa. The ceremony opened with a prayer offered by Chief Apostle Dr. William McCoy of Brothers Keeper Church in Chicago Heights. Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez was unable to attend but was represented by his wife, Carmen Sendejas who addressed the assembly saying, in part, “There is a saying that a man does not die until he is forgotten. The Vietnam Memorial Wall That Heals is a monument to ensure that we will never forget.” Her comment perfectly captures the essence of the Wall.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Vietnam War veteran and retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Reginald Baker who nearly wept as he recalled his first visit to the Wall in Washington, D.C., finding the names of men he knew and the battle in which they fought. The morning after that battle he had to step around the bodies of the men whose names he recognized on the Wall. He said, “There is no color or political party in a foxhole.”

After three full 24-hour days of public viewing, the closing ceremony was held on Sunday, July 10. The Wall That Heals then moved on to its next destination to remind others of the heroism of the American service personnel who served our country in that controversial war, and to spread its healing legacy across the country.

This past July, The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. came to Bloom Township and was placed on exhibit at Marian Catholic High School. The Wall That Heals arrived at Marian Catholic on July 5; set up began the following day with a host of volunteers from Marian Catholic (including a number of Marian Catholic football players) and others from across the Chicago Heights community.