The U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum will host a community-wide remembrance “Vietnam War: Reflections Of Courage” beginning on March 25, 2022, to March 29, 2022. This remembrance coincides with the 49th anniversary ending the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The focus of this event will be an outdoor exhibit called The Moving Wall which is a replica of Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., a monument dedicated to the 2.7 million service members who served in the Vietnam War. This exhibit has nearly 60,000 names of combat zone casualties and almost 1,300 of these are unaccounted for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.

The Moving Wall will be displayed on the Museum parade field and accessible to visitors 24 hours a day. A directory of names and supplies will be available for visitors who may want a name rubbing of a family member or friend listed.  Many veterans’ groups and military organizations will be drawn to The Moving Wall as it represents honor and respect for so many men and women who served during the Vietnam War.

During the month of March, visitors will be inspired by several unique focus exhibits in the ASOM atrium highlighting museum artifacts from Soldiers who served in Vietnam. 

On March 25 at 4 PM EDT, there will be a Remembrance Ceremony and pinning for Vietnam Veterans in the Yarborough Bank Theater. Speakers for this event include CSM (Ret) Jimmie Spencer and Ron Matthews. Spencer is a Fayetteville resident who served in the Republic of Vietnam with 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) (Airborne) and with the Military Advisory Command. Matthews is a Linden resident who served in the Republic of Vietnam from 1969 until 1970 with the 1st Infantry Division and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.  To register for this event, click here.

At 1 PM on Saturday, March 26, LTC (Ret) Jack Kelley who served with the 173^rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam will discuss his book, “Bonded in Battle” which is a true account of Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. Charles Morris who bravely led his men in Vietnam during June 1966.  Following the book discussion will be “My Father’s Brothers”, a critically acclaimed documentary produced by Shawn Kelley, son of LTC Jack Kelley. To register for this event, click here.

On March 27^th, at 2PM a documentary called “The Wall that Heals” will be shown and it tells the inspiring stories of North Carolinians who served in Vietnam.  Documentary producer Chuck Fishbein will provide opening remarks. This event is free and open to the public.  Click here to register for this event.

“Vietnam War: Reflections of Courage” is made possible by a generous grant from Piedmont Natural Gas and supporting partners First Bank, Fayetteville Technical Community College,  the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, Ward Productions, and Builders FirstSource.