The Wall That Heals Comes to Belmont County Oct. 1 – 4
The Community is Invited to Honor, Remember and Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Press Release
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and its accompanying Mobile Education Center, will visit Belmont County October 1–4, 2026, at the Belmont County Fairgrounds in St. Clairsville.
The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public throughout its visit, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to experience the memorial, honor those who served and remember the more than 58,000 men and women whose names are inscribed on The Wall.
The Wall That Heals will begin its journey into the community on Tuesday, September 29, with a public escort through the Ohio Valley to the Belmont County Fairgrounds. Residents, businesses, schools and organizations along the route are encouraged to line the roadway, wave American flags and help welcome The Wall to Belmont County.
On Wednesday, September 30, beginning at 8:30 a.m., volunteers will gather at the Fairgrounds to assist The Wall That Heals staff with assembling the exhibit. Families representing Belmont County service members whose names appear on The Wall have also been invited to participate in the assembly.
The exhibit officially opens Thursday, October 1.
WELCOME HOME OPENING CEREMONY
Thursday, October 1 | Noon
The community is invited to gather for a special Welcome Home Ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans and officially opening The Wall That Heals in Belmont County.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, Ohio National Army Guard veteran, will serve as the featured speaker. The ceremony will also feature local veterans, students, patriotic music, a wreath laying, honor guard and the playing of Taps. At the heart of the ceremony is a simple message for Vietnam veterans, Welcome Home.
LIGHT THE NIGHT
Friday, October 2 | 7:45 p.m.
A special evening ceremony will honor those impacted by Agent Orange and remember veterans who returned home from Vietnam but whose lives were later lost as a result of their service.
The ceremony will include candlelight, reflection and Amazing Grace performed on bagpipes before The Wall goes dark for the evening.
CLOSING CEREMONY
Sunday, October 4 | 2 p.m.
The Wall That Heals visit will conclude with a closing ceremony providing an opportunity for the community to gather one final time to remember, reflect and recognize the veterans, volunteers, sponsors and community members who made the experience possible.
Bringing The Wall That Heals to Belmont County has been a community-wide effort involving veterans organizations, businesses, schools, civic groups, elected officials, sponsors and hundreds of volunteers from throughout the Ohio Valley.
The Wall That Heals provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the healing environment of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in their own community while educating younger generations about the Vietnam War and the sacrifices of those who served.
Visitors are encouraged to experience The Wall at their own pace. Volunteers will be available throughout the exhibit to assist visitors in locating names and navigating the memorial.
About The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals is a traveling exhibit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund featuring a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a mobile Education Center that brings the stories of those who served to communities across America.
About Belmont County Tourism Council, Inc.
Belmont County Tourism Council, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to promoting tourism and economic growth. The organization actively supports local events, attractions, and cultural experiences, working to position Belmont County as a welcoming, vibrant destination in Appalachian Ohio.
(Belmont County Tourism Council Press Release)
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