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Items Left at The Wall That Heals

Over 200 items were left by community members at The Wall That Heals when it was in St. Paul, Minnesota between June 20th and June 24th 2018. Below is a selection of these items that includes mementos, flowers, notes and photos. Many items were left to honor the memory of someone whose name is engraved on The Wall.

The physical items will be archived at the Minnesota Military Museum.

Names engraved on a memorial wall.

Engraved names on The Wall That Heals, St. Paul, MN 2018.

Faded American Flag

Faded American Flag

Quote saying "A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of up to and including, their life"

Quote: "A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of up to and including, their life"

Letter and cookies left at a replica of the Vietnam Wall.

The note, sticker and cookies left at The Wall That Heals in St. Paul, MN

Five U.S. one dollar bills

Five U.S. one dollar bills

Handwritten note to Dean Bolhouse

'In memory of Dean Bolhouse' note; W35

Yellow and red South Vietnamese flag

Viet-Nam flag

Rose stem with handwritten note for Roger Burke- 14E 127

Rose stem with handwritten note for Roger Burke- 14E 127

Portraits of four fallen Vietnam War soldiers

Gene Olson (15 W Line 123); Kerry Gossman (W5 Line 2); Lyle Kloek (8W Line 43); Mark Steeley (26 W 50)

Note and dog tag for Dad, from "kid"

Note and dog tag: Weigandt, Irvin William

Vietnam War service ribbons.

Vietnam War military service ribbons

Single Marlboro cigarette

Marlboro cigarette

Lighter with text Freedom Bird USO, Danang 1971

Lighter: Freedom Bird USO, Danang 1971

Portrait of a group of young soldiers with a note and arrow pointing to a soldier named Bobby.
Red package of Prince Albert Tobacco.

Red Prince Albert Tobacco pouch

Green and blue military patch with star in center

Green and blue military patch with star in center

Beaded green, yellow and white Vietnam keychain

Beaded Vietnam keychain

Memorial pencil rubbing of the name David I Mixter

Pencil rubbing of the name David I. Mixter

Brothers Forever military pin.

Brothers Forever pin

Letter, military sticker, and package of Oreo cookies
Front of unopened envelope for Lowell

Front of unopened envelope addressed to Lowell

Portrait of two young soldiers with text Thomas Baumgardner Jr. KIA June, 1971.

Thomas Baunhgardner Jr. (right) KIA June 7, 1971

Inside of a memorial service program- 13 January 1971

Inside of a memorial service program- 13 January 1971

Two fake yellow roses with notes written on them.

Two yellow roses for Johnny and Lloyd from Gail

Two black and white photos of a military funeral

Two black and white photos of a military funeral

Cover of a memorial service program: "That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain." -Lincoln's Gettysburg Address 19 Nov 1863

Cover of a memorial service program: "That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain." -Lincoln's Gettysburg Address 19 Nov 1863

White and blue flowers in a bouquet with an American flag and ribbon

White and blue flowers in a bouquet with an American flag and ribbon

Yellow Post-It note with the name George W. Large written on it with a Thanks- Minnesotan's Military Appreciation Fund pin.

Yellow Post-It note with the name George W. Large written on it with a Thanks- Minnesotan's Military Appreciation Fund pin

Minnesota Honors You 2017 coin

Minnesota Honors You 2017 coin

Notes left at The Wall That Heals

Notes left at The Wall That Heals

Red bracelet with the name Kurt M. Wilbrecht engraved in it

Red Kurt M. Wilbrecht bracelet

Black and white portrait of a soldier

09W 025

Jeweled charm and handwritten note.

Jeweled charm and note saying: Sharon, Thank you for being there for them. D Something pretty for you. I know you were a fighter then.

Orange rose next to a replica of the Vietnam Wall.

Rose left at The Wall That Heals in St. Paul, MN 2018.

Framed portrait of a soldier.

Bobby McCoy, 7/2/1969, Quang Ngai

Handwritten letter and note from Mary dedicated to John Jones- MIA; Panel 3W- L66

Handwritten letter and note from Mary dedicated to John Jones- MIA; Panel 3W- L66

Yellow Gerber Daisy left at The Wall That Heals

Gerber Daisy left at The Wall That Heals

American flag with memorial tribute to Lance Corporal U.S.M.C. Richard D. Novak

American flag with memorial tribute to Lance Corporal U.S.M.C. Richard D. Novak

Flag for John Ilstrup; Panel 38 E Line 52

Flag for John Ilstrup; Panel 38 E Line 52

Explore a gallery of over 4000,000 items that were left at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

Biographical Details

Story Subject: Military Service

Veteran Organization: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, The Wall That Heals

Story Themes: Flag, Flowers, Grief, Letter, Memorial, Photo Album, The Wall That Heals, Tobacco, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

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