RICHLAND — Whether you’re a Vietnam veteran, a family member or an interested member of the public, Richland’s America Legion Post invites you to visit “The Wall that Heals.”

The traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is scheduled to arrive at the Richland Alumni Park today with an escort of veterans and motorcycles.

“The [semi] is going to be here, we think, between 11 and 11:30 a.m.,” said Bill Anderson, an officer with the traveling exhibit’s sponsor, Richland American Legion Post 504. “They are going to be [driving] past the Washington County Sheriff’s office and through Brighton. It should be an exciting time for Richland.”

With the help of volunteers, the wall will be erected starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, with an opening ceremony that night. Potential volunteers should call (319) 695-3140.

“It’s been a labor of love for a lot of people, getting it here,” Anderson said, adding that the wall has a total length of 250 feet. “I think we’re going to be in good shape.”

The display will be up for four days.

“We’re expecting hundreds of people,” said Anderson. “There will be people making imprints of names on the wall. And those who were touched by this will leave mementos, flowers or something.”

The Wall will have its closing ceremony on Sunday.

The Richland organizers have taken out ads statewide, plus are taking other steps to alert the public.

“We’re putting up signs [around the region] so people will know what it is and where it will be,” Anderson said. “People might want to come who live away from here [because] it doesn’t go to many Iowa towns. There are several [traveling] walls but this is the [official] one out of Washington, D.C.”

The exhibit will be open for viewing 24 hours a day, with volunteers and security present. But from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., a volunteer will be available to help visitors find a name on the wall by using the exhibit computer.

“People can come, and using the computer, they can tell them exactly what number panel the name [they seek] is on,” Anderson said. “There’s 58 names we know of from this area.”

The Richland Lions Club will host a freewill breakfast on Saturday, where they’ll accept donations to support the visiting display.

Anderson said he hopes the public will “come help Post 504 and the Richland community honor those who fell during the Vietnam War.”

For more information, call (319) 456-3911.