Visit the Vietnam Moving Wall – Thursday, 11/01/18 (starting at 9:00AM)– Monday, 11/05/18 (ending at 6:00PM)
24 hours/day at no cost
Ponaganset High School in partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD, Navigant Credit Union, Dr. Day Care, Friendship Lodge 37 Chepachet and other leading Rhode Island Business and community organizations are honored to sponsor of the Moving Wall and Vietnam Veteran’s Oral History Project.
The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., has been traveling the country for over 30 years. As passionate advocates for veterans with disabilities, PHS is honored to participate in bringing this educational and iconic memorial to Rhode Island.
The Moving Wall first came to life inside the heart and mind of John Devitt, a former Army veteran, in 1982. During that year, Devitt visited Washington, D.C. for the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and to participate in the National Salute to Vietnam Veterans. This experience proved to be life-changing for Devitt, giving birth to both creator and creation. In the years following, Devitt set forth on a journey to transform his own experience into something universal.
By building the Moving Wall, Devitt turned his feelings and emotions into something tangible and transcendental – bridging the gaps between generations and individual differences to foster mutual understanding and a collective appreciation. More so, Devitt was able to provide that experience to those who do not have the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. Currently there are two structures of the Moving Wall traveling throughout the United States from April through November. While the sites are everchanging, the Wall’s impact remains constant, evoking a spectrum of emotions from all of those who witness it.
The two major objectives, hosting the Moving Wall and developing and archive of oral histories, are based upon the fact that students learn best when they are truly engaged in what they are learning, when they have the opportunity to explore, debate, discuss, examine, defend, and experiment with the concepts and skills they are ready to learn. Oral history education clearly addresses educational mandates in meaningful and profound ways. This project provides an extraordinary opportunity to not only deliver instruction but inspiring young minds to become enthusiastic learners. This is a large, multidisciplinary project that will unite the school community in a single endeavor.
