YARMOUTH — A traveling memorial honoring the men and women who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War arrived in Yarmouth Tuesday for its only Massachusetts stop of the 2026 national tour in Yarmouth later this month.
The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display at Parker’s River Landing, 669 Route 28, from Thursday, September 17, through Sunday, September 20.
The memorial will be open to the public 24 hours a day, rain or shine, and admission is free. The exhibit is scheduled to close at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Wall bears the names of 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. The exhibit also includes a mobile Education Center with displays designed to help visitors learn more about the Vietnam War, the Memorial and the people whose names appear on it.
According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, more than three million Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. The Wall That Heals has traveled to more than 800 communities since its debut in 1996, bringing the Memorial’s healing and educational mission to communities across the country.
The Yarmouth visit is listed on the official 2026 tour schedule between stops in Putnam, Connecticut, and Oneonta, New York.
The local event is being organized by a 501(c)(3) committee working with veteran organizations and Cape Cod volunteers.
Ceremonies planned
The exhibit was escorted to Parker’s River Landing ahead of its public opening. The local event schedule includes a blessing of The Wall by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on Thursday morning, followed by a Welcome Home Ceremony at 10 a.m.
Additional events are planned throughout the weekend, including a wreath-laying ceremony and an Agent Orange Awareness Ceremony Friday evening.
A POW/MIA tribute will also be part of the event, recognizing American service members who were prisoners of war or remain missing in action. The exhibit includes a Missing Man Table as part of its remembrance displays.
The weekend will conclude Sunday afternoon with a retiring of the colors and closing ceremony at 1:30 p.m., followed by Taps. The dismantling of The Wall is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
The Town of Yarmouth’s Select Board recently voted to waive 50% of the licensing fee for use of Parker’s River Landing, as well as fees associated with departmental permits and public safety administrative details, in support of bringing the exhibit to town.
Town officials are encouraging residents, veterans, families and visitors to attend the exhibit during its four-day stay.
The event is free and open to all ages.
