For Dennis Schlemmer, like many others of his age and older, the Vietnam War was personal. Dennis’ late father, also named Dennis, served in the 864th Engineer Battalion in Vietnam from 1968-70. “His service instilled in me a deep respect for those who served during that era,” he said.

Schlemmer’s father passed away in 2023. He was later inducted into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory Program, which honors Vietnam veterans who returned home but have since passed away from effects of the war. Through that experience, Dennis became more connected to the work of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and learned about The Wall That Heals.

“The opportunity to help bring this powerful traveling exhibit to our community felt like a meaningful way to honor my father and all who served during the Vietnam War,” he said.

The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington, D.C. It was unveiled in 1996 and has since traveled to over 800 communities across the U.S., providing a space for veterans and their families to honor and remember those who served in the Vietnam War.

The exhibit features a mobile education center that tells the story of the war and the impact of the memorial. Visitors can participate in activities and learn about the legacy of the memorial, which has been known to bring healing and comfort to many vets and their families.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund brings The Wall to communities across the country, visiting 31 cities this year. The VVMF also hosts In Memory Weekend over Father’s Day, honoring those who served in the Vietnam War and later returned, but died because of their service.

Several heroes from Taylor will be inducted this year, including Roger Belcher, father of former City Councilperson and Volunteer Coordinator for The Wall That Heals, Angie Winton.

The Wall That Heals will officially open in Heritage Park on Thursday, August 13 and remain open 24 hours a day until 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 16. It will be located at the north end of Heritage Park near the soccer fields, an area where the city previously held outdoor concerts during the summer festival. The location will allow visitors to easily access the Wall while the Junior League World Series is taking place elsewhere in the park (the 44th Annual JLWS will take place from August 9-16 this summer).

With the JLWS taking place at Heritage Park at the same time and Taylor’s proximity to Detroit and the rest of the metro area, Schlemmer expects crowds to exceed 10,000 for The Wall That Heals.

A lifelong resident of Taylor, Schlemmer has been involved in supporting veterans and preserving the legacy of those who served. He is a life member of the Conroy-Renye-McNeil VFW Auxiliary 4422 located on Pine Street south of City Hall, serves as the national president of the Sons and Daughters of the Vietnam War and is on the Board of Directors for the National Vietnam War Museum in Weatherford, Texas.

“When we began planning to bring The Wall That Heals to Downriver, I focused on building a strong leadership team first,” he said. “I reached out to people I personally knew to be go-getters and achievers, along with respected members of the Downriver community who have strong reputations for getting things done. We assembled an outstanding group of committee chairs who immediately went to work organizing the many aspects of the event. While all the chair positions are now filled, we continue to welcome additional committee members as people in the community express interest in helping. It has truly become a community effort.”

The group expects to fill around 300 four-hour volunteer shifts throughout the event. Volunteers must be 18 or older, though those 16 and up may volunteer if accompanied by an adult.

Volunteers will assist in a variety of important roles, including staffing the information tent, leading tours, helping visitors locate names on The Wall, assisting guests in the Mobile Education Center, helping with parking, serving as golf cart drivers and supporting the set-up and teardown of The Wall.

“Every role helps ensure visitors have a meaningful and respectful experience,” he said.

To help bring The Wall That Heals to Taylor, the group is placing donation collection boxes in local restaurants and retailers. Bringing this traveling exhibit to a community involves significant costs and all funds collected from these boxes go directly toward offsetting those expenses. By the time this edition is published, the group will have over 50 boxes placed throughout the Downriver area, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and community members, Schlemmer said.

The presenting sponsor is J&T Crova Towing. Other sponsors include Al’s Asphalt, Mayor Tim Woolley, Port District Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie & Auxiliary #2148, and Conroy-Renye-McNeil VFW Post & Auxiliary 4422.

“We are still seeking additional sponsors, and information on sponsorship opportunities can be found on our website.,” he said.

To learn more about the effort and the event, go to TheWallThatHealsTaylor2026.com. It will provide all the information and news about The Wall’s visit to Taylor, including how to volunteer, become a sponsor, or donate.

A Facebook page (facebook.com/TWTHTaylor2026) will feature the latest updates, spotlight Vietnam War heroes, share fundraising news and more.