(Manning) Manning is preparing to host The Wall That Heals, the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Education Center, from July 23-26, with several special ceremonies planned during the exhibit.
The Welcome Home Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 23, featuring keynote speaker Gerald “Gerry” Berry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who piloted the helicopter that evacuated the U.S. ambassador during the Fall of Saigon. The ceremony will also include performances by Brad Morgan and Don Struve, along with area nurse honor guards and veteran organizations.
A Candlelight Vigil is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 24. Josh Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and Iowa state legislator, will speak during the vigil honoring victims of Agent Orange exposure and those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. The event will conclude with music by the Mackenzie Highlanders Pipes & Drums of Iowa.
Organizers encourage the public to attend the ceremonies and visit the three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Group tours can be arranged by calling 712-655-2176, and more information is available at www.thewallthathealsmanning2026.com.
