19-05-2025
Traveling Vietnam veteran memorial leaves mark in the Upstate
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A traveling memorial honoring Vietnam veterans was on display at The Deerwood Farms in Liberty from May 15th-May18th. 'The Wall That Heals' was open 24 hours a day for everyone to visit, reflect and remember Vietnam war heroes.
It left a lasting impact on Debbie Hayes who told 7NEWS a childhood friend of hers passed away in the Vietnam war. Hayes said she was able to find her friend's name on the wall. She said he was 20 years old when he was killed.
'When you know somebody and you see the name is just heart wrenching, it really is,' said Hayes.
The memorial was chock-full of the names of more than 58,000 men and women who served and gave their lives in the Vietnam War, as well as those who are still missing.
The memorial is a replica of the 'Vietnam Veterans Memorial' in Washington DC, which sees around 5.6 million visitors every year, according to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Organizers told 7NEWS the wall had been displayed in nearly 800 communities across the nation and is funded through donations.
'My husband was in the draft and almost had to go himself when he was 18. So, when you realize the men on this wall are 18, 19,20,21.. for him not to come home, it's not something you'd ever expect,' Hayes added.
Representatives with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund said they chose to bring the wall to Pickens County because of the strong representation of veterans in the area. Volunteers were on site to help visitors find specific names on the wall if they requested.
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