Success StoryThe Wall That Heals



The Wall That Heals

Author: Esther "Susan" Turner

Planning Unit: Monroe County CES

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Monroe County Cooperative Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development partnered with the Tompkinsville Monroe County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Tompkinsville to bring the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall to Tompkinsville.  The agent further coordinated with Monroe County Board of Education so that all schools would be able to visit the exhibit. The target audience for the exhibit was all Monroe County and surrounding county citizens with a special emphasis on reaching out to local Vietnam Veterans.  It was estimated that over 7,000 people visited the exhibit.  High school students who were enrolled in advance placement history helped visitors locate the names of their family members and friends who were listed on the wall.  Teachers prepared special lessons with their middle and high school students so that when they visited the exhibit they had a specific name to find.  Students then researched the individual to learn more about their service.  The most significant outcome of the exhibit was that for the first time, our local Vietnam veterans gathered together as a group.  It was expressed more than once that finally they were given some recognition for their service and that talking to each other about their experiences helped them to heal and to form new support structures.  This exhibit gave those who are unable to travel to the memorial in Washington, D.C. an opportunity to learn from the wall by visually seeing the names listed and for the family members of those listed, it was a public recognition of their grief and sacrifices.  






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