Post 159 steps up to sponsor The Wall That Heals

BELMONT COUNTY -- Larry Barnes’ voice caught as he talked about his friends whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The commander of American Legion Post 159 in St. Clairsville was in Washington, D.C., at the dedication of the memorial in 1982 with his wife, Cheryl, the president of the Post 159 Auxiliary. He saw firsthand the names of three of his high school friends, as well as the names of friends he served with in Vietnam.

He still gets emotional when he remembers that day. And that led to a very quick “yes” when Belmont County Tourism asked Post 159 to be the presenting sponsor of The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter-scale replica of the memorial that will visit Belmont County Oct. 1-4 at the Belmont County Fairgrounds.

“Our motto here is ‘Veterans Serving Veterans,'” Barnes said. “And what better way than to be the title sponsor, to bring The Wall That Heals here, so that other veterans in the Ohio Valley and from all over can come here and visit the wall, especially if they’ve never had a chance to go to Washington, D.C.”

Belmont County Tourism Executive Director Jackee Pugh was on hand Wednesday with officials from Post 159 to announce the post’s sponsorship. Pugh and Barnes said that sponsorship will be much more than money and name recognition.

Post members will help erect the wall when it arrives this fall. They will volunteer at its mobile education area and help people find the names of their loved ones on the wall.

“To be able to take them up there, they can touch the name,” Barnes said. “We’ve had people in Washington, D.C., go up and talk to the name of their buddy that’s on the wall. It’s a very touching experience.”

The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day during its stay in Belmont County, so opportunities for the post to volunteer will be extensive.

Pugh said having Post 159’s support in so many ways will be crucial to the success of the exhibit.

“It just makes the event that much more special,” she said, “knowing they have personal ties and really have that buy-in and commitment and support. They’re the ones that are going to teach us the honor aspect and the respect and the remembrance, because they lived it. They know people on that wall. With their involvement and support, it just means the world to making this event meaningful for everyone else.”

Those interested in volunteering or sponsorship opportunities can visit wallthathealsohio2026.com or call Belmont County Tourism at 740-695-4359.