A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “The Wall That Heals,” is coming to Chester County in July, according to a staff report by Chadds Ford Live.

The Hopewell United Methodist Church and East Brandywine Township are going to host the only Chester County venue on the national tour of the 250-foot, half-scale replica memorial and its accompanying mobile education center display.

The exhibition will be open 24 hours a day from July 28th to August 1st at the East Brandywine Township Community Park at 440 Dilworth Rd. in Downingtown, and is completely free of charge.

In preparations for the event, Hopewell UMC and East Brandywine Township are organizing an informational meeting at the East Brandywine Township municipal building on February 25th starting at 7 p.m. Organizers will take the opportunity to outline plans for the exhibit, and to inform all interested residents about volunteer opportunities.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Chester County residents to experience the impact of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, and we are asking for volunteers to help with visitor assistance and security during this leg of the tour,” said Sandy Lammey, Chair of East Brandywine Township’s Parks and Recreation Committee. “The Wall is the most visited memorial in Washington D.C. and bears the names of the more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.”

Over two million people have visited “The Wall That Heals” display since its debut two decades ago. The exhibition has visited close to 400 communities in the country, and has also made a tour of Ireland and visited Canada.

Letters and memorabilia left by family and friends at the D.C. Wall, photos of service members whose names are engraved on the memorial, and a map of Vietnam and an overview of the conflict are all part of the exhibition.

“It is a privilege to have been selected to host ‘The Wall That Heals’ and to provide an opportunity for all residents – especially local veterans and their families – to see the memorial that honors the three million-plus Americans who served during the Vietnam War,” commented John Neider, the Pastor of Outreach Ministries at Hopewell UMC.

For more information on the event see www.hopewellumc.org and www.ebrandywine.org.