The Pickens County Chronicle published five months ago, in December of 2024, that The Wall That Heals, a mobile three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., would be coming to Pickens County in May, and the time is now near, with the arrival scheduled for next week, Tuesday, May 13. Below is information on the event, along with links to information published in December, January, February, March, and April.

The Wall That Heals has been displayed at about 700 locations across the United States since Veterans Day, 1996. It will be hosted in Pickens County by the Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office and will be on display at Deer Wood Farms in Liberty. In 140 panels, and 375 feet long, The Wall That Heals bears the names of the more than 58,000 Americans who died during the Vietnam War, including fellow citizens from Pickens County, but a purpose of The Wall That Heals also includes honoring the 2.7 million Americans who served during the Vietnam War. Anyone can do rubbings of names on The Wall That Heals. Lighting will allow the names to be read at night.

The Wall That Heals is transported in a 53-foot-long trailer, which, when parked after The Wall That Heals is set up, becomes a mobile education center, telling the story of the Vietnam War and the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, May 13, The Wall That Heals will arrive in Easley about 11 a.m. and will be escorted from Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley beginning at noon to Deer Wood Farms, from Highway 123 to Highway 178. Citizens are asked to line the streets as The Wall That Heals is escorted by law enforcement and motorcyclists to its destination.

On Wednesday, May 14, setup is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Once set up, The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours a day until 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at which time it will be broken down. Admission will be free each day, and parking will be free.

On Thursday, May 15, school tours are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Other groups may schedule a tour for between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. by calling Melanie Ginn at the Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office at 864-898-5928. “Taps” will be played at sunset. The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours.

On Friday, May 16, The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours. A welcome home reception and Agent Orange Awareness Ceremony will be held, with the time to be announced. “Taps” will be played at sunset, and The Wall That Heals will be illuminated in orange in recognition of Agent Orange awareness. Group tours may be scheduled for between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. by calling Melanie Ginn at the Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office at 864-898-5928.

On Saturday, May 17, group tours may be scheduled for between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. by calling Melanie Ginn at the Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office at 864-898-5928. The Wall That Heals will be open 24 hours.

On Sunday, May 18, The Wall That Heals will be open until 2 p.m. A closing ceremony will be held at 1:45 p.m.

Deer Wood Farms is located at 765 Breazeale Road (Rep. Harold D. Breazeale, Sr. Highway), which turns off Highway 178 (Charles Henry Moorefield Memorial Highway) between Liberty and Pickens on one end and turns off Highway 8 (John Gentry Memorial Highway) between Easley and Pickens on the other end.

For more information, visit The Pickens County Veterans Affairs Office’s website at www.pickensveterans.org or The Wall That Heal’s website at www.vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals.