NAHANT — American Legion Post 215 is looking for volunteers to help bring The Wall that Heals to Nahant this July.
“We need volunteers for many areas. To help direct parking, distribute flyers, for hospitality, and to act as ambassadors — the largest volunteer group — who will greet visitors and help them find names on the wall,” said the event’s communications manager, Candace Cahill. “There are many volunteer opportunities for anyone interested.”
Operated by the Veterans Memorial Fund, the wall — a replica three-fourths the size of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. — allows visitors to do rubbings of individual service members’ names, which are listed by day of casualty on the monument’s avonite surface.
The trailer also doubles as a mobile education center that includes photos of service members and a display of items representative of those left at the larger version of the wall in Washington in remembrance of servicemen lost.
“(The wall) evokes the same kind of somber and patriotic emotions that the wall in Washington, D.C. evokes,” said American Legion member Toby Quirk. “It makes it very accessible and … we expect to have people come from great distances to this event. Not just Vietnam veterans and their families, but also children, grandchildren, friends of veterans.”
Volunteers will receive training for their role the Wednesday evening before the event.
“We welcome the involvement of residents of Lynn and adjacent towns,” Cahill said. “With this being the only wall venue in Metro Boston, we’re looking forward to a great turnout.”
The wall will be stationed at the Lowlands Softball Field July 15 through 18.
For more information about the event or to sign up as a volunteer, those interested are asked to visit the American Legion Post 215 website at www.alpost215.org or email [email protected].
