News Release: Wall That Heals Reaches Halfway Point

03 July 2008

The Wall That Heals, the traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is at the halfway point of its 2008 tour schedule, stopping this week in Newport, N.H. for the July 4th weekend.

The replica has 21 stops on this year’s tour schedule. Newport, N.H. is the 10th location for 2008.

Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, announced that GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) has joined Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust, FedEx Corporation, Harley-Davidson Foundation, Rush Enterprises and Target Corporation as a national sponsor of The Wall That Heals.

GEICO is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States, insuring more than 8 million policyholders and more than 13 million vehicles. Dedicated to community service, GEICO’s corporate mission encourages active, involved citizenship. Through GEICO Corporate Community Citizens (GCCC), GEICO associates contribute to and participate in a variety of activities in locations where the company has offices. More than 4,000 associates volunteer an average of five hours a week helping many worthwhile organizations.

“We are pleased to have GEICO join our growing list of sponsors for this important endeavor,” said Scruggs. “The company’s active involvement in local communities fits well with the mission of The Wall That Heals, which is to bring the healing power of The Wall to people throughout the United States, so they can experience the Memorial without having to leave home.”

In addition to the half-scale replica of The Wall, The Wall That Heals traveling exhibit features a museum and information center. The museum chronicles the Vietnam War era and explores the unique healing power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The information center helps visitors learn more about friends and loved ones lost in the war, and volunteers assist them in finding names on The Wall.

The Memorial Fund is currently working on plans to update and improve the trailer, bringing new exhibits to the museum and making the information center easier to use. The renovated trailer will be unveiled in 2009.

Since its dedication in 1996, The Wall That Heals has visited more than 300 locations throughout the United States, spreading the Memorial's healing legacy to millions. It made its first-ever international journey in 1999 when it went to Ireland to honor the Irish-born casualties of the Vietnam War. It has also traveled to Canada.

For more information about The Wall That Heals travel schedule or how to bring it to your community, contact the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund at (202) 393-0090, or e-mail vvmf@vvmf.org. Details of dates and locations the replica will visit in 2008.

Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Today, through a series of outreach programs, it is dedicated to preserving the legacy of The Wall, promoting healing, educating about the impact of the Vietnam War and is building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center, an underground educational facility, near The Wall.

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