A weeklong commemoration of the U.S. soldiers who died in the Vietnam War will begin Monday in Hilo.
“The Wall That Heals” — a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. — arrived Wednesday on the Big Island for an exhibition Monday through Friday at Russell Carroll Mo‘oheau County Park.
The wall, a project of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, is transported around the country to allow veterans and their families a chance to pay tribute to the war’s dead in the comfort of a familiar place. This will be the first time the wall has been brought to Hawaii.
“There’s an intrinsic connection between Hawaii and the Vietnam War,” said Chelsea Mack, public affairs officer for the Hawaii branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “For one thing, Hawaii sent the highest concentration of its population to the war out of any other state.”
Mack added that of the roughly 100,000 veterans in the state, about one-third of them are Vietnam veterans, and Hawaii was a stopover point for about 90% of all U.S. soldiers traveling to or from Vietnam.
Because of that, Mack said she expects a big turnout for the first event of this week’s memorial services: a motorcycle escort that will convey the wall around Hilo beginning at 10 a.m. Monday before it is brought to Mo‘oheau for assembly.
She said more than 150 volunteers have signed up to be part of the escort so far, but hopes to see as many as 600 participants on the road.
Mack added she also hopes people along the escort’s route will participate in their own way by lining the streets and waving flags.
The route — which coils from the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium down Kanoelehua Avenue to Puainako Street, Komohana Street, Mohouli Street, Kaumana Drive and then from there down to Waianuenue Avenue and the Bayfront — was chosen to pass by several Hilo schools following a request by Mayor Mitch Roth.
After the escort, the wall will be assembled during a ceremony at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
The wall consists of 140 synthetic granite panels mounted on an aluminum frame and measures 375 feet long when fully assembled.
Marcy Brinkley, communications coordinator for The Wall That Heals-Hawaii County, said residents who have a connection with one of the names on the wall can volunteer to help affix the panel bearing that name to the frame.
After assembly, the wall will remain in situ until Sunday, Jan. 28, and will be publicly viewable following a welcome ceremony at 9 a.m. Wednesday — which also necessitates volunteers to act as greeters, Mack said. Volunteer orientation will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Other events include a ceremony Thursday commemorating veterans exposed to the pesticide Agent Orange during the war, and a one-hour memorial ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday. Throughout the display period, attendees can leave at the wall mementos that will be collected for historical preservation.
Taps will also be played at 6 p.m. Tuesday and at sunset from Wednesday to Saturday.
On Sunday, Jan. 28, following a final farewell ceremony at 1 p.m., the wall will be dismantled so it can be shipped to its next site: Kahului, Maui, where it will be displayed from Feb. 7-13.
Volunteers can sign up to participate in the motorcycle escort, assembly ceremony or as a greeter at thewallthatheals-hawaiicounty.org.
Shuttle services for seniors and veterans will be provided on Wednesday and Saturday. Shuttles will depart from Yano Hall, the West Hawaii Civic Center, the Lily Yoshimatsu Senior Center, the Honokaa Senior Center, the Ka‘u Community Center and Pahoa Senior Center at 7 a.m. Wednesday, and from the same locations — except for Yano Hall and Honokaa Senior Center — at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.