By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
Chris Lizotte is the director of Veterans’ Services for the Town of West Springfield. A veteran himself – he served in Baghdad with DCo. 1-181INF of the Army National Guard between 2007 and 2008 – prior to coming to West Side he worked with the non-profit Veterans Inc. of Worcester, Massachusetts, to help homeless vets find jobs.
Lizotte said he learned about “The Wall That Heals” through an email last August announcing its visit to Gloucester, Massachusetts. Familiar with the Washington D.C. original, he set out to make West Springfield an official stop on “The Wall’s” 2016 tour. PRIME contacted Lizotte to learn more about the Aug. 18 to 21 visit of “The Wall that Heals,” which is being hosted by the Big E fairgrounds. Here’s what he shared:
Q: What exactly is ‘The Wall That Heals’ and what makes its Western Massachusetts visit significant?
"The Wall’ is an exact replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It travels across the country accompanied by a trailer that converts into an Education Center. Once constructed, ‘The Wall’ stretches to a length of 250 feet and stands 8 feet tall at the apex, displaying the names of the 58,315 men and women who lost their lives while fighting in Vietnam. It has been known to draw thousands, including loved ones, family members, and fellow comrades who come to heal. It’s a place where people can remember the fallen and leave behind picture and other personal items. Its visit to West Springfield is a great opportunity for anyone who has not had the chance to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“A Vietnam Traveling Wall has not been in Western Massachusetts for quite some time and it is fitting that it is coming now, during the 50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War. It will be open for 24 hours a day. The planning committee has created themes for each of the days that it is here: Honor, Heal, Remember, and Learn. We are hoping that Vietnam veterans will come and share their experiences and educate the youth about the importance of what they did and what the men and women on ‘The Wall’ had to sacrifice”
Q: Are there opportunities for veterans and their families associated with ‘The Wall’s’ visit?
“As part of ‘The Wall That Heals,’ we are seeking Vietnam veterans to sit down with trained interviewers to tell their stories of service. These stories will become part of the Veterans History Project, created by the Library of Congress. The video/interview is unedited and must be at least 30 minutes long, but can last for hours if need be. The video is sent to the Library of Congress to be archived for anyone to view.
In addition, veterans’ service providers from across Western Massachusetts will be in a camp adjacent to ‘The Wall,’ to help veterans and their families gain access to the help they deserve. There will also be a Navy photographer on site to take professional profile photos of veterans.
“On Aug 20 from 6 to 10 a.m., veterans are invited to a free breakfast in the Firehouse on the grounds of the Big E.”
Q: What do you hope the community will take away from ‘The Wall’s” stop in Western Massachusetts?
“I am hoping the community will take away many things when they visit ‘The Wall That Heals.’ We want the community to be able to honor the fallen, heal from their losses, remember their sacrifices and learn about who these service men and women were, what they did, and how it made an impact on the world we live in today.
“I am also hoping that the community will use this event to strengthen their sense of pride and respect they have for all Veterans of the past, present, and future.”
For a complete listing of all events planned in conjunction with “The Wall’s “ visit, go to http://www.thewallthathealswestspringfield.com/ and click on “Event Schedule” located under the “About”tab.
