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Title
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Finding Aid for the Wall that Heals Collection
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Type
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Collection
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Date
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2010
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Description
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Many notes, photos, computer printouts of service information from the Wall website, and other paper memorials were left at The Wall. The majority of the items had names but a few of the memorials were not labeled or were intended as a thank you to all. Other items left at the wall include wreaths, M.I.A. bracelets, medals, pins, flowers, and even personal items such as a teddy bear. When fresh flowers were left at The Wall, the flower cards were removed, the location noted, and only the cards were kept. The flower cards have been grouped either by cards that were unsigned to unknown soldiers, ones that were signed to unknown soldiers, and those that were given to a specific soldier. Some cards to soldiers only list their first name. The numbers (section and line) and letters (E=east, W=west) following an entry indicate the location of the individual on The Wall or the location where an item was left. The collection has been arranged by item type and then alphabetical by soldiers’ name when known.
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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Midwest Genealogy Center, Mid-Continent Public Library, Independence, Missouri
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Extent
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17 boxes
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Identifier
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MGC 1062
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extracted text
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Collection Summary
Title
The Wall That Heals
Date
2010
Extent
17 archival boxes
Name and Location of Repository
Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence (Mo.)
Reference code: MGC 1062-WTHC
Processed by: Nicole Schlagel; Reprocessed and finding aid created by Jolene Clark, 2020.
Name of Creator
Midwest Genealogy Center
Biographical History
In 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) revealed a half-scale replica of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. called The Wall That Heals. The Wall travels to communities
throughout the country to allow veterans, family, friends, and students in their home community to
honor the 58,000 men and women who fought in the Vietnam War and were killed or missing in action.
The Wall That Heals came to Blue Springs, Missouri from September 30 to October 3, 2010. During the 4
days, over 50,000 people visited The Wall at Pink Hill Park. As members of the community visited the
memorial, many left objects at The Wall. Each night volunteers collected memorabilia from The Wall.
The Midwest Genealogy Center catalogued and archived those items.
Scope and Content
Many notes, photos, computer printouts of service information from the Wall website, and other paper
memorials were left at The Wall. The majority of the items had names but a few of the memorials were
not labeled or were intended as a thank you to all. Other items left at the wall include wreaths, M.I.A.
bracelets, medals, pins, flowers, and even personal items such as a teddy bear. When fresh flowers were
left at The Wall, the flower cards were removed, the location noted, and only the cards were kept. The
flower cards have been grouped either by cards that were unsigned to unknown soldiers, ones that
were signed to unknown soldiers, and those that were given to a specific soldier. Some cards to soldiers
only list their first name. The numbers (section and line) and letters (E=east, W=west) following an entry
indicate the location of the individual on The Wall or the location where an item was left. The collection
has been arranged by item type and then alphabetical by soldiers’ name when known.
1
Collection Inventory
System of Arrangement
These records are arranged in 12 series.
Box 1
Series 1, Memorials, notes, photographs, and clippings
Folder 1, unknown, scripture-20W
Folder 2, unknown, photograph-19E
Folder 3, unknown, scripture-9E
Folder 4, unknown, Thank you for your service cards (4)
Folder 5, unknown, card with dove and poem-East section
Folder 6, unknown, note card from Cass County Lodge 2791
Folder 7, unknown, poem 101st Airborne Division-30-31W
Folder 8, “Wes,” cartoon-35E
Folder 9, Adenir, Restituto Poblete, laminated memorial
Folder 10, Adam, John Quincy, 6 pages computer printouts-65E, Line 6
Folder 11, Aspey, Darrell Wayne, computer printout-13W, line 60
Folder 12, Avant, Joe, photo-4W
Folder 13, Bergfield, Phillip Rex, 2 pages of computer printouts
Folder 14, Black, William Ray, 1 handwritten note and 1 typed note-30W, line 72
Folder 15, Blair, Ivy Louis, veteran information card-58E, line 30
Folder 16, Bove, Harmon, yearbook dedication in 1970 Oread (Burlington High School,
Burlington, VT)-12W
Folder 17, Bowers, Jerome, memorial and attached photo-18W
Folder 18, Boyles, Jerry Lee, computer printout from virtual wall-50E
Folder 19, Brady, “Joe” Joseph, thank you note-51E
Folder 20, Cagley, James Nelson, computer printout from virtual wall-12E
Folder 21, Carroll, Robert Hugh, veteran information card-58E, Line 31
Folder 22, [Clark], Tim, letter in sheet protector-14F
Folder 23, Clay, Russell, handwritten note and computer printout-4W
Folder 24, Condon, Frank Alloysius “Pappy”, computer printout-60W
Folder 25, Dale, Bennie, veteran information card-59E, Line 3
Folder 26, Dale, Richard D., computer printout, copy of photo, copy of patches-1E
Folder 27, Dalton, Michael F., poem, flower tag, and note-60E, Line 10
Folder 28, Davis, John Lawrence, laminated computer printout from virtual wall-46W
Folder 29, Davison, Guy Allen, computer printout-46W
Folder 30, Donics, William Caldwell, copy of yearbook photo from Kemper Military
School-24W
Folder 31, Dornon, Charles William, 4 pages computer printouts, 1 The Wall flyer, 1
laminated memorial-22W, Line 75 (items left between sections 1E and 1W)
Folder 32, Droz, Donald Glenn, computer printout-27W
Folder 33, Ecklund, Arthur Gene, memorial and letter and envelope from Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Ecklund-27W
2
Folder 34, Etchberger, Richard Loy, 11 pages computer printout-44E, Line 15
Folder 35, Evans, Richard A. Jr., copies of newspaper articles and photos in sheet
protector-46W
Folder 36, Flynn, Daniel Joseph, 3 pages computer printouts-69W
Folder 37, Frasch, Robert Louis, computer printout-8W, Line 126
Folder 38, Hartman, Donald Owen, 2 printed photos-22W, Line 1
Folder 39, Hazelwood, John Edward, computer printout-64W
Folder 40, Hein, Charles John, Jr., Newspaper clipping from The Valley News,
Shenandoah, IA, 17 Mar 2020-11W, Line 131
Folder 41, Hipkins, Colin Keith, poem written by Darlene Hipkins (mother)
Folder 42, Hobbs, Charles, photocopy of photo-30W, Line 4
Folder 43, Hoppers, Micheal E., typed note-68W
Folder 44, Hubbard, Robert Stephen, handwritten note-57E
Folder 45, Hudgins, Carl William, Jr., computer printout-23W, Line 110
Folder 46, Isbell, David Gene, yellow printout on cardboard-39E
Folder 47, Johnson, Bernard Derek, computer printout-32E
Folder 48, Johnson, Milton Jay, 2 pages computer printout-52W
Folder 49, Lane, Sharon Ann, 21 pages computer printout, typed letter in sleeve-23W,
Line 112
Folder 50, LaPlant, Kurt Elton, 10 pages computer printout-59W, Line 6
Folder 51, Lara, Apimenio “Manny,” 2 pages computer printout-63W
Folder 52, Lovell, Lewis Randolph, Jr. 2 pages computer printout-59W
Folder 53, Madison, Steve, memorial page-2W
Folder 54, McCullough, Marvin L, photocopy of photo-34W
Folder 55, Mclean, Ronald Walsh, 6 pages computer printout-23W, Line 113
Folder 56, Meyer, William, typed note
Folder 57, Michael, William Arthur, 3 pages computer printout-29E, Line 32
Folder 58, Mundt, Henry Gerald, III, photo and poem
Folder 59, Nore, Kenneth H., photo-31E, Line 6
Folder 60, Paialii, Pasia, photo-2E
Folder 61, Preslipski, Michael, Jr., photo with bio-18W
Folder 62, Pulliam, Dale Allan, 7 pages computer printout-19E (found in 29E)
Folder 63, Rauber, William “Billy,” handwritten poem-52E, Line 10
Folder 64, Reinhold, Michael J., bio-40E
Folder 65, Ryder, Edwin B., handwritten bio and photo-18W
Folder 66, Shields, Marvin, computer printout from virtual wall-2E, Line 7
Folder 67, Shook, Boyd L., handwritten bio and photo-8W
Folder 68, Smith, James W., memorial with 2 patches attached
Folder 69, Sorensen, Kenneth, mounted computer printout photo in sheet protector,
flower card-3E
Folder 70, Swazick, Danny “Dan” G., mounted computer printout photo in sheet
protector, flower card-42E
Folder 71, Sweatt, Theodore Alfred, computer printout-37W
Folder 72, Thomas, Robert James, 7 pages computer printout-1W, Line 95
Folder 73, Toomey, Samuel K, III, newspaper article and photocopied photo
Folder 74, Vivona, Ronald M., computer printout photo-50E
Folder 75, Walter, Ward Gunner, computer printout-31E
3
Folder 76, Weatherby, Jack W., computer printout, photocopy of patches-2E
Folder 77, Webster, Rhena Charles, typed memorial in sheet protector-32W
Folder 78, Wood, Patrick Herdy, computer printout-15E
Folder 79, Woods, Alexander, photo, photo of medals with service information
Box 2
Series 2, Flags
Folder 1-Folder 24, American flags for unknown recipients collected from East wall
Box 3
Folder 25-Folder 47, American flags for unknown recipients collected from West wall
Box 4
Folder 48, Wes
Folder 49, Barnes, Bruce Michael-18-19W
Folder 50, Cagley, James nelson-12E
Folder 51, Clark, Timothy-14F
Folder 52, Cole, Muril Steven-3W
Folder 53, Elling, Roger-42W
Folder 54, Etchberger, Richard Loy-44E, Line 15
Folder 55, Michael, William Arthur-29E, Line 32
Folder 56, Smith, James W.-16W, Line 65
Folder 57, Stanley, Frank Skipper (large tri-fold flag)-19W
Folder 58, Thomas, Robert James-1W
Box 5 [oversized]
Item 1, medium cloth flag-67W
Item 2, Vietnamese battle flag-1W-3W
Item 3, Tri-folded flag in display case
Item 4, Tri-folded flag in display case
Box 6 [oversized]
Item 5, Allen, W. T. (Vern)-31E
Item 6, Winfrey, James Arthur, flag with attached photo-20W, Line 111
Item 7-Large flags to unknown recipients collected at the Wall (17 flags)
Box 7
Series 3, Flower cards
Folder 1, unsigned cards to unknown soldiers
Folder 2, signed cards to unknown soldiers
Folder 3, Edward-12E
Folder 4, Fred-42-43W
Folder 5, Gerald-12E
Folder 6, John-52W
Folder 7, Michael-56W
Folder 8, Mike-14W
Folder 9, Mike-22W
Folder 10, Mike-29-30E
Folder 11, Pete-14-15W
Folder 12, Ron-41E
Folder 13, Ronnie-18W
4
Folder 14, Ronnie-17-18W
Folder 15, Tom-24E
Folder 16-“Salem”-26-27E
Folder 17, Teddy-61E
Folder 18, Allen, Raymond-25E, Line 21
Folder 19, Aspey, Darrell Wayne-13W
Folder 20, Barham, Larry Gene-37 E, Line 48
Folder 21, Barker, Larry
Folder 22, Boston, Kenneth-13W
Folder 23, Bowdon, Bruce-12W
Folder 24, Buell, Craig
Folder 25, Butler, Gary-2W
Folder 26, Condrey, George T., III-56E, Line 37
Folder 27, Crook, Tom-62E, Line 1
Folder 28, Culwell, Jimmie Lee-33W, Line 13
Folder 29, “Mr. Dalltow”-57E
Folder 30, Darnell, Jimmy A.-39E, Line 19
Folder 31, Dornon, Charles William-22W-5 tags and 1 photo
Folder 32, Estes, Brian R.-30W
Folder 33, Harston, Mark-3W
Folder 34, Hix, Keith E.-11E
Folder 35, Holtman, John T-25E
Folder 36, Jenne, Robert E.-57E, Line 4
Folder 37, Jurecko, Daniel E.-57E, Line 4
Folder 38, Keck, Warren-16E
Folder 39, Kimbrell, Louis-54W
Folder 40, Lankford, J.W.-52E
Folder 41, Leon, Pedro-16E
Folder 42, Lindquist, Bill-21W
Folder 43, Longston, Henry R-29W
Folder 44, Lynten, Larry-8W
Folder 45, McClafferty, James E.-52W, Line 20
Folder 46, McClafferty, James Edward-52W-2 tags and note
Folder 47, McDowell, Steven-5W, Line 91
Folder 48, McMillin, Gary D.-5W
Folder 49, Moon, Raymond Ross-14W
Folder 50, Patterson, Jerome D.-25E, Line 49
Folder 51, Perez, Richard-18W
Folder 52, Pope, Charles A.-6W, Line 69
Folder 53, Puckett, Dennis Ray-17E
Folder 54, Saltey, James, Jr.-4W
Folder 55, Santa Cruz, Jose Angel-14W
Folder 56, Sherman, William W.-28W, Line 3
Folder 57, Smith, David William-65W
Folder 58, Smith, Jack-12W
Folder 59, Smith, James “Jim”-18W
Folder 60, Smith, Kenny-12W
5
Folder 61, Steinbom, Russell Albert-15-16W
Folder 62, Tribble, Preston-25W
Folder 63, Ward, Ronald-24W
Folder 64, Williams, James R-33E, Line 1
Folder 65, Wolfe, Richard O.-15W
Folder 66, W[right], Bill-26E
Box 8
Series 4, Hats
Item 1, Pith Helmet—Carroll, Roger W., Jr.-1E
Item 2, Blue baseball cap-15W
Item 3, Red 3rd Battalion 6th Field Artillery cap—Ward, Johnny-18W
Item 4, Air Force camouflage hat-46E
Item 5, Green hat-21W
Box 9
Series 5, Framed photos and memorials
Item 1, photo of memorial for John Quincy Adams in front of DC Wall-69E, Line 6
Item 2, memorial with flag and patches-2E-3E
Item 3, photo of memorial for Kurt E LaPlant in front of DC Wall-59W, Line 6
Item 4, framed scrapbook page for William E Brown-35E
Item 5, photo and message left as tribute to all from Michael A Dobbs family
Item 6, framed testimonial by Kathy Lee to Sharon Lane-23W
Item 7, picture “I Think I Won” with note, memorial to Daniel J. Gutierrez, 1969
Item 8, photo in plastic stand, Leo Miller Jennette-47W
Item 9, photo in plastic stand, Jeff L. Wenger, Army ’69-15W
Box 10
Series 6, Wreaths
Item 1, grape vine army wreath for Colin Keith Hipkins-26E
Box 11
Item 2, wreath from Girl Scout Brownie Troop 1714
Box 12
Item 3, twig base wreath covered in red white and blue fabric with stars-9E-10E
Item 4, hands memorial wreath from Girl Scout Troop 490
Series 7, Oversize items
Item 1, black easel
Item 2, Large poster with photos and clippings in memorial for Larry Gene Barham-37E
Item 3, Poster from Mission Valley High School in Eskridge, KS 1
Item 4, Poster from Blue Springs, MO Brownie Troop 1582
Item 5, Bi-fold with 2 large photos and flag for Colin Keith Hipkins-26E
Box 13
Item 6, Quilt
Box 14
Series 8, MIA Bracelets
Item 1, Adam, John Q
Item 2, Brown, Harry (with note)
Item 3, Carroll, Jr., Roger W.
Item 4, Ecklund, Arthur G.
6
Item 5, Griffin, Rodney L.
Item 6, Grubs, Newk
Item 7, Hoskins, Charles L.
Item 8, Masterson, Michael
Item 9, Silver, Edward
Item 10, Toomey, Samuel K. (2 bracelets and button “Mill Creek Mustangs”)
Series 9, Misc. Items
Item 1, Box of Lucky Strike cigarettes, David Alexander Woods
Item 2, Box of Marlboro cigarettes
Item 3, Red, white, and blue ribbon with flag and angel pins
Item 4, Red ribbon
Item 5, Medals (2)
Item 6, Service bars and green ribbon bar
Item 7, String of beads
Item 8, pencils (2), used as anchor to memorial for Russell Leland Clay
Item 9, Airborne patch
Item 10, Army green macramé bracelet, Sharon Ann Lane
Item 11, 52 cents
Item 12, 36 cents
Item 13, Commemorative coin, Robert Lewis Frasch
Item 14, Commemorative coin, Joe Avant
Item 15, plastic merit token “I was caught doing good” (2)
Item 16, Welcome home pin and commemorative coin
Item 17, Bracelet
Item 18, Wounded heart pin (2)
Item 19, Roll white electrical tape
Item 20, Dog tag on chain, Jeremy Drexler
Item 21, Rocks (2)-7E
Item 22, Budweiser beer can-16W
Item 23, Tabasco sauce bottle-6W
Item 24, Schlitz beer bottle, David A Woods-29E
Item 25, 2-Welcome Home medals with ribbons with patches-one with pin in case (left
with white mum wreath-6W
Item 26, U.S. Marine Corps mug with gold bow-53W
Item 27, 5-medals (including 2 purple hearts) on cardboard backing with note-53W
Item 28, Block of wood36-37E
Item 29, Miniature orange construction cone, Tim-44-45W
Item 30, Green Beanie Baby bear-45W
Box 15
Item 31, Glass vase (original contained red roses and plastic flag)-12-13E
Item 32, Boots Restituto Poblete Adenir
Item 33, Stuffed bear for Jeff L. Wenger-15W
Box 16
Item 34, patches-2
Item 35, photo and poppy on flower stake, Woodrow C. Akers-10W
Item 36, pencil (used to anchor virtual wall printout to ground), Marvin Glen Shields-2E,
line 7
7
Item 37, star banner
Item 38, Paper American flag-36-37W
Item 39, Student art work
Item 40, Note “You should’ve let me go first sorry it was you”
Series 11, Promotional material
Folder 1, Committee notes and volunteer information
Folder 2, Notes on items removed from Wall
Folder 3, The Wall That Heals brochures
Folder 4, The Wall That Heals DVD
Folder 5, Newspaper clippings
Box 17
Folder 6, The Kansas City Star Magazine, February 20, 2011
Folder 7, “The Wall That Heals,” The Examiner (special insert), September 25, 2010
Folder 8, Proclamation from Jackson County Legislature in support of The Wall that
Heals, July 26, 2010 (2 copies)
Folder 9, The Wall That Heals poster
Oversize items- Wall That Heals panels with signatures from Library display (4 panels)
Series 12, Artificial flowers
Item 1, Red Wooden rose-17E
Item 2, Silk rose with photo in plastic sleeve-John W Wright
Item 3, Silk roses with cards, Larry W Kilgore-6W, line 12
Item 4, Velvet red silk rose-30E
Item 5, Silk red rose
Item 6, Burnt orange silk rose bouquet-20-21E
Item 7, Red silk rose bouquet with note, Delbert Leroy Ryan
8
Rights and Access
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use by appointment.
Physical Access
Many items within this collection are housed within file folders and artifacts are wrapped in acid free
tissue paper in archival boxes.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Languages and Scripts of the Material
Materials in the collection are entirely in English.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Memorial items collected by the Midwest Genealogy Center at The Wall That Heals in Blue Springs, MO
in 2010.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected for this collection.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals owned by the Midwest Genealogy Center.
Notes
The following sources were consulted during the preparation of the biographical history:
“The Wall That Heals.” Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, 2020, www.vvmf.org.
“The Wall That Heals: City of Blue Springs, MO - Official Website.” The Wall That Heals | City of
Blue Springs, MO - Official Website, www.bluespringsgov.com/818/The-Wall-That-Heals.
Turner, Sandy. “Items Left at The Wall That Heals Are Handled with Special Care.” The Examiner,
Supplement, 25 Sept. 2010, p. 15.
9
