What ‘The Wall That Heals’ in Clovis meant to this Vietnam Veteran

CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Sunday was the final day that you could see a replica of Washington D.C.’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Clovis. “The Wall That Heals” was open from Oct. 9 to 12, open 24 hours a day and free to the public.

Vietnam Veteran Ignacio Haro was one of many veterans at the replica wall and said that it was a long time coming.

“It’s a wonderful thing to have something like this for the veterans we have,” Vietnam Veteran Ignacio Haro said. “This is fantastic. Yeah, because a lot of us can’t afford to go back east.”

Haro served in the US Army during the Vietnam War alongside his cousin.

“Him and I were the closest, [my cousin] Frankie. We used to go to Hollister to pick apricots there,” Haro said.

Ignacio brought his grandkids to see the wall before the replica leaves Clovis and heads towards Northern California.

“I had seen the wall about the last time I was here, and I think it was in Selma many years ago, but I didn’t have any grandchildren back then,” Haro said.

Ignacio has overcome a lot to be standing by his grandkids Sunday.

“I started drinking even more and I just went into a shell since and I stayed there for a long time. After my sobriety, then all these guys came across and said that I should come to this sooner,” Haro said.

Volunteers lined the replica wall to help folks find their loved ones.

“This is such a healing moment for them, especially for those that don’t have the opportunity to make it to Washington, D.C. We’ve brought this here for them,” volunteer Marisol Gonzalez said.

Making memories to help reconcile with the past.

“I could see my cousin’s kids doing that. If I wasn’t here, I know Frankie would have come,” Haro said.

This week, 68 veterans will also travel to the nation’s capital for the 33rd Central Valley Honor Flight.