Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3701 Loop Road East Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Damon Stevenson, Chief, Stakeholder Relations Phone: (205) 554-3828 Email: [email protected]

April 1, 2010

The Wall That Heals comes to Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA – The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans

Memorial in Washington, D.C., will bring the message of The Wall home to Tuscaloosa from

June 9 to June 13.

Located at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, the exhibition will feature the dramatic replica – stretching nearly 250 feet in total length – as well as an Information Center and traveling museum displaying memorabilia left at The Wall in Washington, D.C. Special activities planned include opening and closing ceremonies, a reading of each name of the service members from Alabama listed on The Wall and other events to be announced.

The Wall That Heals, allows the many thousands of Vietnam veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of “facing The Wall” to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin.

“Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, the Marine Corps League, and the cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport are very honored to bring this event to Tuscaloosa, in order to help the healing process begin for those veterans that we so proudly serve,” said Damon Stevenson, Public

Affairs Officer for the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.

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The Wall That Heals exhibition is organized by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the organization charged with preserving The Wall in Washington, D.C., and its vast legacy.

National sponsors of the tour include Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Trust,

Federal Express, Geico, New Century Transportation, Harley-Davidson Foundation and Target

Corporation. Local sponsors include the Mike Spann Detachment of the Marine Corps League and the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.

The Wall That Heals will begin with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on June 9 and will then be open 24 hours a day until 5 p.m. on June 13. There is no charge for admission. For more information on The Wall That Heals, contact Connie Booth at 205-554-3673 or [email protected].