Beginning Friday, our city will host a profound and humbling tribute: The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. For six days, this sacred installation will stand at the Virginia Beach Convention Center — not as a monument of stone, but as a living space of memory, healing and gratitude.
The Moving Wall bears the names of more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. Each name, etched into its 74 panels, is a story interrupted, a family forever changed, a sacrifice that echoes across generations. Almost as long as a football field, the sheer scale of the Wall is overwhelming for some — and deeply moving for all.
As it travels the country, The Moving Wall brings these stories home — offering communities such as ours a chance to honor, to learn and to listen. We expect many visitors to pass through the Convention Center between Nov. 7-11, each bringing their own reflections and reverence.
We invite everyone to visit the wall, whether you served, lost someone, or simply wish to understand. Veterans often speak of the quiet power of seeing their comrades’ names in person. Families find solace in the shared space of remembrance. Young people glimpse a chapter of history not through textbooks, but through the weight of real lives.
This installation is part of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, a national program authorized by Congress to mark the 50th anniversary of the war. It began on Memorial Day 2012 with the primary goal of thanking and honoring Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. The Virginia Beach Veterans Week events are the last ones of this commemoration period.
Other events during Veterans Week in Virginia Beach include an official opening ceremony for The Moving Wall, displays of military vehicles and helicopters, a mobile recording studio from the Americans in Wartime Experience museum, and the annual Tidewater Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony at the Tidewater Veterans Memorial. Find more details and resources at VirginiaBeach.gov/VeteransWeek.
Hosting The Moving Wall and the other events is not just a logistical effort — it’s a civic responsibility. Three co-sponsors — the Mayor’s Committee for Veterans, the Hampton Roads Council of Veteran Organizations, and the nonprofit Mission: POW-MIA — have worked tirelessly to share these experiences in Virginia Beach, along with support from local volunteers and organizations.
As a veteran myself, I know the quiet weight that moments like this carry. “You don’t forget the names,” it’s been said. “You carry them with you. Seeing them again — seeing them honored — means more than words can say.”
We also hope this gathering will shine a light on the Tidewater Veterans Memorial, located across from Virginia Beach Convention Center. Maintained by the city and cared for by the Mayor’s Committee for Veterans, this memorial stands year-round as a testament to our enduring gratitude.
Let this be a time when our city pauses — not just to remember the past, but to reflect on the values that endure: service, sacrifice and the bonds that hold us together. With a large military presence and a population that is 14% veterans, Virginia Beach has a proud tradition of honoring those who serve. This event further cements our city’s reputation as a place that listens, remembers and supports.
Let us show our veterans that their stories matter, their service is honored, and their legacy lives on. Let us be the kind of city where remembrance is active, gratitude is visible, and service never goes out of style.
I hope to see you there.
Mayor Robert M. “Bobby” Dyer served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1972. He was sworn in as mayor of Virginia Beach in November 2018, becoming the first military veteran to be directly elected mayor of Virginia Beach. He serves as a regional board member on numerous boards and committees, including the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance and the Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee.
