The Wall That Heals, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s (VVMF) traveling exhibit, will be on display July 18-19 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in Cresco. Featherlite Trailers and VFW Post 4561 are sponsoring the event, which is open to the public from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
    The Wall That Heals is a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a mobile museum housed within a Featherlite trailer. It was redesigned this spring by Featherlite and unveiled March 26 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The renovation of the 45-foot trailer features new exhibits designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates of New York City, the largest interpretive museum design firm in the world.
    “The Wall That Heals and the traveling museum trailer are a vital part of VVMF's mission to preserve the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, promote healing and educate about the impact of the Vietnam War,” said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “The replica brings the healing power of The Wall into communities across the United States, allowing people who may never have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. to experience the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.”
    The Wall That Heals has traveled to communities across the United States since 1996. When visiting a community, the half-scale replica is erected on site. The redesigned The Wall That Heals mobile museum trailer includes photographs of veterans, loved ones’ letters and items left at the full-scale Wall, historical timelines and artifacts. Nine doors on each side of the trailer lift up to reveal the exhibits and visitor’s information window.
    “Featherlite Trailers is very proud to be part of The Wall That Heals and helping to pay tribute to our country’s veterans and their sacrifices,” A.J. Mack, Featherlite specialty project manager, said. “We’re also proud of the many Featherlite employees who put so much heart into this important project.”
    “The original trailer was built by Featherlite in 2000 and logs thousands of miles each year. The fact that we went so long without an overhaul speaks to the quality of Featherlite's workmanship and the dedication of its employees to provide excellent products to all of its customers,” said Scruggs. “VVMF is extremely pleased with this new trailer, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Featherlite far into the future.”
    Featherlite, headquartered in Cresco, is a leading manufacturer of specialty aluminum trailers, including horse, livestock, car, recreational and utility trailers as well as museum and display trailers, command centers, vending trailers, classroom trailers and 53-foot race transporters used by NASCAR teams.
    VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 4561 of Howard County includes 153 members. The VFW’s mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans' service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.
    There is no charge to attend The Wall That Heals event. The Howard County Fairgrounds is located one and a half blocks north of Highway 9 on W. Seventh Street in Cresco.
    For more information on Featherlite, VFW and the VVMF, visit their websites at www.fthr.com, www.vfw.org or www.vvmf.org.