Vietnam traveling wall to return to DeSoto County

July 19, 2025 – Among the many monuments in Washington, D.C. to American war heroes, the Vietnam Memorial Wall remains one that evokes a full range of emotions when seen. 

For some, there remains a sense of grief as they view the names of loved ones who died in the conflict. There is also a sense of reverence and reflection, and for some, healing.  

An estimated 5-5.6 million visitors annually come to the memorial that contains the names of about 58,000 servicemen and women who died in the Vietnam conflict. Still, many have not, or are not, been able to personally make the visit.  

That brought Navy veteran Doc Russo of Melbourne, Florida to construct the Vietnam Traveling Wall, a three-fifths replica of the actual memorial that now travels about 50,000 miles across the country each year between April and November.  The replica wall carries those same 58,000 names, but also notes tributes to those from other wars like Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Korea, and eight women tributed to the Vietnam War.

The traveling wall will make another appearance in DeSoto County next June, when it is set up and put on 24-hour a day view between June 4-8 at the George M. Harrison Soccer Complex on Church Road in Olive Branch. Security will be provided and it is expected to arrive with a motorcycle and helicopter escort, as occurred when it was last in the Mid-South.  

Local organizer Michael Reed, who also serves as DeSoto County Veterans Service Officer, made the public presentation to the Olive Branch Board of Aldermen at its most recent meeting.

The idea about bringing the wall to Olive Branch came about when it was in Lakeland, Tennessee last year. 

“We sat around and asked, ‘why can’t we bring it to Olive Branch?’” Reed said. “So, we made an application, and it’s generally done about 1-2 years in advance, but there were dates in 2026 that we were able to work with.”

The Traveling Wall resembles the actual memorial, is 375 feet long, and stands six feet long in the center. Visitors who come will experience the same emotions of grief, reverence and reflection, and healing expressed at the memorial in Washington. There will also be a table set up with information about the wall, which will be lit up at all times.  

This is not the first time for the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to visit DeSoto County. Two previous visits had it in the parking lot of the Landers Center in Southaven, in 2012 and in 2014. The Wall also visited Lakeland, Tennessee last year, yet Reed said it is unusual for the memorial to make a return visit so soon after it was previously here. 

A $1,000 deposit has been made to ensure the dates and Reed said fundraising is now underway to raise the remaining $35,000 for the wall’s visit here.

The soccer complex was selected because of its high visibility and location off state Highway 305 and Church Road.  

“Thousands of cars pass there daily and it will be displayed where people can see it,” Reed said. “It’s a good area to make the most of what we’ve got for a short period of time and give everybody in DeSoto County an opportunity who will never make it to Washington to be able to memorialize a loved one.”  

Reed also noted that the wall serves as a teaching tool for younger generations to learn about their family’s sacrifices and the legacy of the veterans.  

“This may be someone’s only chance for closure,” Reed said of visitors’ ability to see the traveling wall in person with a family member’s name on it. “They may have had a good friend or relative who they saw for the last time back then boarding a bus when they were inducted,” with Reed adding that for others, it is a somber reminder that a family member paid a supreme price for them to enjoy their freedom. 

Contact Reed at mreed@desotocountyms.gov for more information, or call 662-404-6598.