Vietnam War memorial replica to make only Wyoming stop in Afton

In what Afton military veteran leaders call “a monumental milestone” and a “once-in-a-lifetime” event, a traveling replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., will make its only Wyoming stop in Afton this summer. The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-size version of the memorial stretching 375 feet and 7.5 feet at its highest point, will be on display July 9-12 at Star Valley Middle School.

“To be able to bring the replica here is a monumental milestone for us,” said Afton VFW Post 4797 Vice Commander Jay Conley. “It’s the honor of a lifetime for one, and it’s something that has never happened in western Wyoming.” The replica includes all 58,281 names from the original wall in Washington. As with the actual wall, the replica is set up in a chevron shape with 140 panels supported by an aluminum frame. It’s made of synthetic granite, and visitors are allowed to do name rubbings of loved ones.

Conley said recruiting the traveling memorial for a stop in Afton was something a Vietnam veteran suggested. The post’s members voted in favor of pursuing it, applied, and out of 150 applications, Afton was one of 31 sites chosen for 2026. Along with the wall replica will be a mobile education center that provides a war timeline, information about the war, and also about Wyoming Vietnam War vets. The traveling memorial also has a Wall of Faces that depicts photos of those whose names are inscribed at the wall.

Plans call for offering family and friends who have loved ones’ names on the wall an opportunity to escort those portions of the wall as they’re unloaded from the semitrailer on arrival day, July 8. Within 200 miles of Afton, there are communities represented by 120 names of the more than 58,000 on the wall. “This is a good way to welcome home Vietnam veterans who did not receive the welcome home that heroes should be given,” Conley said. “We want to create an avenue for them to be welcomed home and healed as well.”

Families can submit names of Vietnam veterans who died from war-related causes such as PTSD, Agent Orange, or other war injuries to be part of a mobile display during the wall’s visit. The deadline is June 9. Planners hope for 700 to 1,000 motorcycles to escort the wall into Afton. Volunteers are needed to unload and set up the memorial on July 8. The next day, Gov. Mark Gordon is scheduled to give an opening speech, and a Light the Night celebration is planned at dusk July 10 to illuminate the wall all night. The wall will be open 24 hours a day with LED lighting at night providing easy reading of the names.