Bud Scheller and Liz Holtgreve both stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Tuesday, March 17 to give an update on the Wall that Heals, the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial that is coming to Afton July 9-12.

(0:00) Learning more about the wall that heals the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial, (0:04) the monument that’s coming into Star Valley this summer, (0:07) and it’s taking a whole bunch of volunteers and a great committee (0:11) of people helping put that together. Two more of those committee members joining me live in (0:15) studio this morning. That includes Bud Scheller.

He is overseeing the fundraising efforts for the (0:20) wall that heals and Liz Holcreve is working on the tours that’ll take place during the event. (0:25) Bud, Liz, good morning. How are you both doing today? (0:27) Great.

How about yourself? (0:29) Doing well. (0:30) Good morning. (0:31) Appreciate your time.

Bud, let’s start with you and the fundraising aspect of this. (0:36) As we’ve talked with previous board members and Lisa Grimsley in the past, (0:41) this thing is not coming here without a few dollars needed to make it happen, right? (0:46) No, it sure hasn’t. Following the lead of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, (0:51) or fund, I should say, folks in D.C., based on their history, (0:57) on the low end, communities have been able to put this program together for $40,000.

(1:02) On the high end, where it’s done right, in my opinion, it’s $250,000. (1:07) Right now, we can probably account for just under 100 of what we need, (1:13) and there’s still some unknowns. So we’ve got a ways to go, but we want to do this right.

(1:17) We want to show the proper dignity and respect for the names that are engraved on that wall, (1:23) their families, and actually their service members that served with them. (1:29) So we’re going to do it right. (1:30) And I think that’s the key of why you want to do it right, correct? I mean, it’s not just to say (1:35) that we’re not doing it right, just so it’s a good experience.

I mean, it’s out of respect for (1:40) the names on the wall. (1:41) Absolutely. If you look, if we did a, say, 150 to 200 mile radius, a circle all the way around (1:47) Afton, going into Idaho, down as far as the Colorado border almost, (1:50) there are 123 names engraved on that wall.

(1:55) So it’s important that we show the proper respect, (1:58) give them the dignity and the honor they deserve, and that’s our plan. (2:02) So, Bud, what are the fundraising sources then that you’re trying to accomplish with? (2:08) We’re reaching out to that whole radius I just described, excuse me for my cold. (2:15) We’ve gone to local tourism boards in the communities, we’ve done industry, (2:20) private citizens, big businesses.

(2:23) We have reached out to almost every possible source that we can. (2:28) And like I said, it’s a work in progress, but we’re hitting it hard every day. (2:33) And you mentioned, I mean, 250, that’s a lot of money.

(2:38) And so what are those funds actually used for? (2:41) Well, we had to pay $12,000 right from the get-go to get the wall granted to us. (2:48) I mean, they have expenses they have to cover too, the folks in Washington, D.C. (2:52) We have to get insurance, we have to get a domain name and a web page, (2:56) we have to pay for advertising, signage, marketing. (3:02) There’s a list of equipment supplies that we need that just blows the mind.

(3:07) Anywhere from the VVMF people want a certain number of number two pencils. (3:14) It’s in July, we need to make sure that there’s nourishment (3:18) and refreshment for the people that are going to be there. (3:21) Emergency cases, it’s going to be water, tents, sound systems, lighting, you name it.

(3:27) The list just goes on almost as far as you can imagine. (3:30) And eventually, we’ll all have a list on our website (3:34) of items we have to get through Amazon, at least that’s our plan. (3:38) And that’s been growing.

(3:39) That will be on the website pretty soon. (3:41) So, Bud, how can people get involved with this and help out financial, (3:45) whether a business or an organization or individual? (3:48) That’s an easy one for me. (3:50) There’s a couple different ways.

(3:52) They can contact me via my cell phone at 307-690-4475. (3:58) They can contact me through Bud Scheller at Gmail, B-U-D-S-C-H-E-L-L-E-R at Gmail. (4:05) They can go to our website, The Wall That Heals Afton, Wyoming, 2026.

(4:11) And there’s plenty of information there on how to donate, how to sponsor, (4:16) and make it relatively simple. (4:18) And that’s up to whoever’s interested in doing it, (4:22) any one of those choices, and they will be taken care of. (4:25) The Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be set up at (4:28) Starvati High School this July.

(4:30) Bud Scheller handling the fundraising efforts for that. (4:33) Middle school. (4:34) The middle school.

(4:35) Oh, did I say high school? (4:36) I had middle school in my head. (4:38) I was picturing middle school. (4:39) Those kids will get there someday, but they aren’t there yet.

(4:42) Thank you. (4:42) Yes, middle school. (4:44) Starvati Middle School this July.

(4:46) Bud, I want to ask you also why you personally wanted to get involved and help with this. (4:52) I can see based on your hat that maybe this is something very personal to you. (4:57) Yeah, it is.

(4:58) And sometimes it’s hard to talk about it. (5:00) I was in Southeast Asia from 66 to 67. (5:04) I was in a gigantic fighter base.

(5:07) We lost a lot of airplanes. (5:08) We lost a lot of people. (5:10) And I had friends and family members who were there.

(5:13) I had schoolmates. (5:14) One of my schoolmates was the Medal of Honor Seal. (5:16) If you ever saw the movie Bat 21, Tommy was the guy that was in that movie.

(5:21) It means a lot to me. (5:22) When we came home, we were greeted with eggs and tomatoes thrown at our bus. (5:27) And I think it touches my soul that we remember the folks that didn’t get the welcome home.

(5:34) And I don’t care about myself. (5:35) I’m thinking about the rest of the gang that didn’t get the proper welcome, didn’t get (5:41) the proper recognition. (5:42) And I’m hoping that this event this summer, the 9th through 12th of July here in town, (5:49) brings a little closure to the families and the friends that were involved.

(5:54) There’s a lot of people who that wall—I’m sorry, that combat, that war killed, who’s (6:01) not on the wall, people who died afterwards, people with PSD. (6:05) And they may be kind of forgotten. (6:07) So we’re remembering all of those folks.

(6:10) Of course the 58,000, but everybody that suffered in one way or another, individuals or their (6:17) families. (6:18) So yeah, it’s pretty close to my soul. (6:21) Yeah, very well said.

(6:22) And thank you for your service. (6:24) And absolutely appreciate your help putting this all together. (6:27) So again, remind us if people want to join you and be part of this financially, how do (6:31) they contact you? (6:32) Contact me, cell phone 307-690-4475 or my email budscheller at gmail.com. (6:41) That’s B-U-D-S-C-H-E-L-L-E-R, budscheller at gmail.com. (6:48) And I will get back to you.

(6:49) Perfect. (6:50) Also in the studio today is Liz Holtgreave. (6:53) Liz is also helping with the tours aspect of this.

(6:56) And so Liz, it sounds like you’re going to be kind of boots on the ground helping people (7:01) have a great experience with this and some pretty cool things happening with it. (7:05) So I guess let’s start right out of the gate and what people should expect to experience (7:10) when they show up for this. (7:12) So we’re going to have, the wall will get here actually on the 8th.

(7:17) We’ll set it up. (7:18) And then on the 9th, we’re going to have a welcome home ceremony. (7:22) Governor Gordon is going to give a shortish talk and hopefully we’ll have some other (7:29) dignitaries there as well.

(7:31) Then at 11 o’clock guided tours will begin and people are free to come whenever. (7:37) It’s open 24-7 for the time that it’s here. (7:42) So, guided tours, which is what I’m scheduling, are a great way to learn more about the wall.

(7:49) The tours are led by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund experts. (7:54) They explain how the wall came to be, the one in Washington, D.C., and they have many (8:01) stories about the names on the walls, including local names if a visitor has a question about (8:05) a particular person. (8:06) And the guided tours are perfect for veterans groups, religious groups, civic groups, social (8:14) groups, workplace and corporate groups, senior citizens groups, and assisted living and (8:20) retirement centers.

(8:21) We’re reaching out to all of these groups to let them know about the awesome opportunity. (8:28) It’s also a great opportunity for family reunions and class reunions. (8:32) Star Valley High School, class of 71, is having their reunion that weekend and they’ve already (8:37) signed up for a tour, which is cool.

(8:38) Very cool. (8:39) Getting excited. (8:40) And you can have a pretty big group in a tour, it looks like.

(8:44) Yeah, we can have up to 120 people, maybe more depending on the group. (8:51) The tours are about every hour. (8:55) They last about 45 minutes.

(8:59) That sounds fantastic. (9:01) Do you have to reserve a tour time to see the wall? (9:06) You don’t have to do that, correct? (9:07) No, individuals or families certainly do not. (9:09) You’re welcome to come whenever.

(9:11) But a larger group, it enhances the experience many times to go on a tour. (9:18) Absolutely. (9:18) I’m excited to go on one.

(9:20) So tell us how a group or someone goes about signing up for one. (9:24) Is that something they can do now? (9:26) It’s not. (9:27) I don’t think it’s quite set up on the website, on the wall website here yet, (9:32) but it will be soon.

(9:34) Or they can contact me at 307-248-3205 or lholtgreve, h-o-l-t-g-r-e-v-e at gmail.com. (9:47) Perfect. (9:47) And eventually they will be able to schedule the time online then, it sounds like? (9:52) I think so. (9:53) Yeah.

(9:54) At least they’ll be the times listed and then you can contact me. (9:57) Gotcha. (9:57) Gotcha.

(9:57) And remind us the website address again. (10:00) Wood. (10:04) All big one word.

(10:06) Excuse me. (10:07) The wall that heals Afton WY-2026. (10:12) Like that’s all one word.

(10:13) Perfect. (10:14) Believe it or not. (10:15) Liz, tell us more about the wall itself.

(10:17) Because when you talk about the advantage of doing it as a tour, (10:21) whether in a smaller or large group, I mean, this is not a 10 foot long. (10:27) I mean, this thing’s huge. (10:28) No, it’s huge.

(10:28) It’s 385 feet long. (10:30) It’s a four-fifths replica of the wall that’s in Washington DC. (10:36) It’s set up exactly the same and it’s going to be awesome.

(10:42) It’s lighted from the top. (10:45) We’re going to have a light the night ceremony to honor PTSD victims. (10:53) And then in addition to the wall, the wall comes in a big semi-trailer.

(10:58) Once the wall is unloaded and set up, the trailer becomes an education center. (11:03) And they have people traditionally have left items at the wall in Washington and then (11:11) at these traveling walls to honor the person that they came to see. (11:19) And it just it’s a great education.

(11:22) They talk about they have a history of the Vietnam War in that era. (11:27) And their expert, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund experts have people that (11:36) explain all the bits and pieces that are in the education center. (11:40) Perfect.

(11:40) So again, this is happening the week after the 4th of July weekend. (11:44) It’s July 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th at Star Valley Middle School. (11:50) And again, if you’d like to be involved and help out in any way, you can reach out and (11:57) just offer any assistance, whether it be financial or boots on the ground, right? (12:01) So again, in studio, Bud Scheller and Liz Holtgreave this morning on the Weekday Wakeup.

(12:05) Appreciate you both. (12:06) Anything we missed that you would like to mention today? (12:10) Yeah, Bud, go ahead. (12:10) Just one comment about the education center.

(12:14) People will probably start seeing flyers around town about recognizing hometown heroes, (12:19) where you can get hold of the people in D.C. with your hometown hero, (12:24) one of your members of your family that served. (12:26) And I think it’s important to remember them, (12:28) because that’s going to be on one side of the trailer. (12:30) And I just got to add, I can’t keep my mouth quiet.

(12:33) I think this is going to be an experience that might even exceed (12:38) visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (12:42) And I say that because we have the education center, you have the tours, (12:47) but we also have the things that have been left behind at the wall in Washington, (12:54) that some of them are on this trailer. (12:58) If you want to get an idea of what it is, if you have access to YouTube videos, (13:03) go in there and Google, or however you do it, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C., (13:08) and you will see some of those examples. (13:12) And they are gut-wrenching.

(13:16) So it’s highly recommended. (13:18) This is going to be quite an experience. (13:20) July 9th through the 12th at Star Valley Middle School in Afton, (13:24) the wall that heals coming to the Star Valley community.

(13:27) Bud Scheller and Liz Holtgreave in studio. (13:29) Bud, Liz, thank you both so much. (13:30) Appreciate your time.

(13:31) Thank you very much. (13:32) It’s all part of the weekday wake-up this morning on the SVI Radio Network.