081618...R WALL 3...Warren...08-16-18...U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran Eric Crawley of Youngstown, served in Vietnam 1969-70, views The Wall That Heals Thursday morning...by R. Michael Semple

WARREN — The Wall That Heals is returning to the city for the first time since 2018 to honor area Vietnam military personnel killed during the war as well as those who were able to return home from the war.

There were 61 area residents that died in service to the country during the Vietnam War. Their names are on the traveling memorial.

It will arrive in Trumbull County on May 27 — the day after Memorial Day — to be set up and displayed on the south lawn of Packard Music Hall through June 1. It will be available to visit 24 hours per day.

The Wall that Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer. When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, the wall and the divisive era in American history.

An estimated 13,000 people visited the wall when it was last in the city. Warren will be the only city in Ohio to host the three-quarter scale, 275-foot long, 7.5-foot tall wall replica during 2025.

The Wall That Heals honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and it bears the names of 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Jim Valesky, who served in the U.S. Marines and is the co-chair of the Warren Heritage Center, said the wall allows people to honor veterans from that period as well as provide opportunities for veterans and their families to heal by visiting the wall.

“The last time it was here it brought the community together, families together and it brought classmates together to not only remember the fallen in sorrow, but also the good times,” Valesky said. “Most of these people (who served in Vietnam) were young.”

Valesky said the traveling Wall That Heals is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

“Most who have been to the wall can pretty much walk up to the name they are looking for,” he said.

Valesky said Dr. John and Denise York of Boardman worked with the Warren Heritage Center to provide some funds that were needed to get The Wall That Heals to the city.

The mobile exhibit will include digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes” — service members whose names are on the Wall that had their home of record within the area of the visit; digital photo displays of Vietnam veterans through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory program, which honors veterans who returned home and later died; educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at the Wall in D.C.; a replica of the In Memory plaque; and a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War.

Former Trumbull County Veteran Services Commission Director Herm Breuer, also a co-chair of the committee, said it is really important to look back to that era to remember what was happening at the time, so as not to repeat whatever mistakes may have been made.

“The nation that forgets its history is doomed to repeat it,” Breuer said. “You can make a parallel to what is happening to our country today. It is important to pass those lessons to our children today.”

The fee just to bring the wall here is $12,000, which does not cover all the costs. There are a lot of in-kind services that are needed.

The group is looking for volunteers to help while the wall is in Trumbull County.

In 2018, the group worked closely with local veterans organizations.

“We will have a tent where people can talk to veterans who served during that time and there will be resources for veterans in the (Packard Park) shelter house,” Breuer said. “We are looking for additional things.”

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin emphasized the city, as well as its police and fire departments, will do whatever is needed to make sure the exhibition is a success.

Those looking to volunteer can email: James.valesky@warrenheritagecenter.org or text him at 330-507-8831.