The Wall That Heals comes to Chillicothe, Missouri 

‍Men of C/3-12 Infantry Vietnam gather at the wall John Wirth, Bob York, George Wytko, and Joe Carter.

Chillicothe, Missouri was honored to host “The Wall That Heals” August 3rd - August 6th, 2023. Joe Carter, commander of the American Legion Post #25, our VFW post 858, and the Livingston County Veterans Association from Chillicothe worked with Washington D.C to bring the wall to our community and displayed at the Chillicothe High School football field. As the planning went into effect the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce jumped onboard and wanted to help with bringing the wall to town to allow Livingston County and surrounding County’s to have the opportunity to visit the wall. Several months of planning and communication with Washington DC to be able to host the wall. One of the many requirements was having volunteers to man the wall twenty-four hours a day. We needed volunteers to assist with helping friends and families and fellow veterans found the names of those who were lost during the Vietnam War, as the call for volunteers went out, we had some veterans from other states sign up to help where they were needed.  

The wall was brought into the County and Chillicothe by a enclosed semi-trailer escorted by 200 patriot riders from all over the state, and a police and Highway Patrol that helped escort it in to town. The streets were lined with the citizens of Livingston County and surrounding communities waving the American Flags as it passed through town to the local high school for set up. The wall, which is 328 feet long, and is ¾ the size of the wall in Washington DC it took 50 volunteers to help in setting up the wall with some panels weighing as much as 80 lbs. apiece.
‍

‍Bob York and George Wytko locating the men in their Platoon that were lost.

The wall honors the more than 300 million Americans that served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War and bears the name of 58,285 men and women who made the Ultimate Sacrifice. A mobile education center was on display to provide pictures and information about the war and those who lost their lives. There were pictures on display of the men in our community and surrounding communities that lost their lives and were honored by the Missouri Representative Rusty Black by placing a wreath at the wall. 

Thousands of people passed by the wall while it was on display, A lot of tears were shed as they found the names they had come to see and even some relief to know that some of those they had served with made it home and their names were not on the wall.  It was a great honor to be apart of bringing “The Wall That Heals” to Chillicothe, Missouri.

Article by Joe Carter of Midwest Chapter President and Vice President of Vietnam Officer

‍