ASHEBORO, N.C. — In 1996, on Veterans Day, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund unveiled a 375-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C., named "The Wall That Heals". For its 29th season, which kicked off at the beginning of this year, the traveling memorial will be in North Carolina for three days. 

Over 58,000 U.S. military personnel were killed during the Vietnam War, which spanned around 20 years. 

Veteran Denny Wojnar was a lucky member of the military who was able to return home, serving 20 years. When the Vietnam veteran heard about "The Wall That Heals" coming to Asheboro through the Randolph County Veteran Services, he knew he wanted to help build the three-quarter-scale replica of the memorial. 

Denny Wojnar and other volunteers help carry pieces of the memorial to be constructed. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

“I have names of friends on the wall, and it’s nice to help out and let families come out and see this,” said Wojnar. 

Wojnar served as an air crewman in the Navy, traveling at night to North Vietnam and taking photos of their movement in 1968.

“We were using infrared at night to see how many trucks were going up and down the highways there and going across into Laos. They wanted to know, especially the Army wanted to know, what was going on, how many troops were moving north and south, how much equipment was coming in, and we were able to help them keep track of that,” said Wojnar. 

The 80-year-old said although he knew numerous friends who are honored on the memorial wall, one name stands out — Charles David Lindbloom, the man who replaced him. 

“I knew him before we went over there. And it was very difficult. He had a — he had a family, a wife and young kids, and I was lucky enough to survive and get back. So it's a strange feeling,” Wojnar said. 

Any of the thousands of names on the wall could have been him, which he says made it even more important to help honor the veterans.

“It makes you feel like people aren't going to forget,” Wojnar said.

The Wall That Heals has been displayed in nearly 700 communities with more than 222,000 visitors. 

The exhibit also has a traveling mobile education center, with items of tributes left behind at the wall in D.C. It includes items like a care package that was returned to the sender of a solider who was killed prior to getting the mail, a baseball glove and even a prosthetic leg. 

Daniel McCormick (plaid shirt) helping lift his brother's panel into the wall. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

The unit also has the capability to look up the names of those who are on the wall to help quickly locate the name. It includes the over 190 ‘Hometown Heroes’ who are on the wall, with photos and some information about those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

For Daniel McCormick, who served as a U.S. Air Force member for over 20 years, one of the 140 panels of the mini memorial was a little more special to him than the others. The panel is engraved with his older brother’s name, Bruce A. McCormick, a member in the 101st Airborne in the Army and platoon leader who was killed in Vietnam. 

“Couldn't believe it when the lady stopped me last night in a restaurant and says, ‘Would you like to come see the wall tomorrow? You being a veteran?’ I said, 'Sure.' And I said, ‘By the way, I had a brother that was killed in Nam.’ She’s like, ‘You need to come in at 8 so you can carry his panel out.’ And it was just totally amazing. Just hard to explain after all the years,” McCormick said. 

He says he saw the exhibit in North Carolina years ago but it was already built, making the tribute even more special this year. 

Both veterans said they have seen the memorial in D.C., but honoring the soldiers on their home soil helps continue to the legacy of those we have lost and healing for those that live on. 

The memorial will be at South Asheboro Middle School from June 20 through June 23 at 2 p.m. It is guarded by veterans 24 hours a day and is free and open to the public any time. Aid for veterans will also be on site.