The Traveling Wall

Many Vietnam veterans have only seen their service recognized in recent years. But a traveling version of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in State College gave them a chance to share their stories and heal. 

The names of more than 58,000 soldiers who died in the Vietnam War are listed and honored on the Traveling Wall.

Rex Johnson is an active duty national guard member from Milesburg. He rode among the Motorcycle Honor Escort last Wednesday, delivering the Traveling Wall from Bellefonte to Innovation Park.

For Jim Krape, from Lock Haven, visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, was about healing.

Krape served in the U.S. Marine Corps including in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966. On Wednesday, he was the road captain for the Traveling Wall.

“For years, I had a lot flashbacks and so forth, but once I got my hand on the wall, that seemed to go away. It’s a healing process, that we know that our guys are here and they’re safe. We are going to watch over them.”