YARMOUTH — A powerful traveling memorial honoring the men and women who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War will come to Yarmouth next month when The Wall That Heals makes its only Massachusetts stop of the 2026 tour.
The 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, West Yarmouth, from Thursday, September 17, through Sunday, September 20. The exhibit will be free and open to the public 24 hours a day once the installation is complete, rain or shine.
The Wall is scheduled to arrive in Yarmouth on Tuesday, September 15, as part of an escort procession before volunteers begin preparing the exhibit for visitors. Setup will take place Wednesday, September 16.
Event schedule in Yarmouth
- Tuesday, Sept. 15: The Wall That Heals arrives at Parker’s River Landing as part of a motorcade escort procession.
- Wednesday, Sept. 16: Exhibit setup begins at 8 a.m. A volunteer orientation and training session is scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by Echo Taps at 6:48 p.m. The Wall will open to visitors once construction is complete.
- Thursday, Sept. 17: Opening Day. A blessing of The Wall by a Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Medicine Man and ceremonial drummers is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by the Welcome Home Ceremony at 10 a.m. The exhibit will remain open 24 hours. Echo Taps is scheduled for 6:46 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 18: The Wall will remain open 24 hours, with tours throughout the day. An Agent Orange Awareness Ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., followed by Echo Taps at 8:17 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 19: The exhibit remains open 24 hours, with tours throughout the day. Echo Taps is scheduled for 6:43 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 20: A closing ceremony and retirement of the colors will begin at 1:30 p.m. The Wall will close at 2 p.m., when dismantling will begin.
The Town of Yarmouth lists the event as free and notes that the exhibit is designed to provide a somber, reflective environment for visitors of all ages.
The Wall That Heals honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and bears the names of 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. The traveling memorial is a program of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The replica is approximately 375 feet long and stands 7½ feet high at its tallest point. Like the original memorial, it is arranged in a chevron shape, with visitors able to walk along the panels and make name rubbings of individual service members.
Alongside the memorial will be a mobile Education Center, housed in the 53-foot trailer used to transport the exhibit. The center includes displays about the Vietnam War, the history of the Memorial, the era surrounding the conflict and the lasting impact on veterans and their families. It also features digital displays highlighting local service members whose names appear on The Wall and veterans honored through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory program.
The Yarmouth exhibit is being presented by a locally organized nonprofit in collaboration with veteran organizations and Cape Cod community volunteers. Organizers say more than 300 volunteers are needed to help with visitor assistance, the Education Center, parking and transportation, setup and breakdown.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund says more than 100 communities sought the opportunity to host The Wall That Heals during its 2026 tour. The exhibit is scheduled to visit 31 communities this year, with Yarmouth serving as the Massachusetts stop from September 17-20. Since the traveling exhibit debuted in 1996, it has been displayed in more than 800 communities across the country.
For those who cannot visit during regular daytime hours, organizers emphasize that The Wall will be open 24 hours a day from its opening through Sunday afternoon, allowing visitors to come at any time for reflection and remembrance.
The exhibit will be located at Parker’s River Landing, 669 Route 28, West Yarmouth. Admission is free.
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