Rutherford County to Hold First Agent Orange Remembrance and Awareness Day Ceremony

Rutherford County will hold its first Agent Orange Remembrance and Awareness Day ceremony Monday, bringing veterans, families and community members together to recognize the lasting impact of the Vietnam War-era herbicide.

The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the ICC Soccer Field, 360 Piney Ridge Road in Spindale.

Organizers with the Rutherford County Agent Orange Remembrance and Awareness Committee are partnering with The Wall That Heals Rutherford County Committee for the inaugural event. The Wall That Heals, a traveling three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to visit Rutherford County in November.

“Many people have heard the term Agent Orange but don’t fully understand what it was or how many lives it continues to affect,” said Lisa Marie Barrett, director and co-chair of The Wall That Heals Rutherford County Committee.

National Agent Orange Awareness Day is observed each year on Aug. 10, the anniversary of the first reported military use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The U.S. military used Agent Orange and other herbicides to clear vegetation and expose enemy positions during the war. Veterans and others exposed to the chemicals have since faced a range of health problems associated with exposure.

For many families, the consequences continued long after the war ended.

“Our veterans’ battle didn’t end when the war did,” Barrett said. “Many continue living with the effects today, and so do their families.”

The Rutherford County ceremony will include a wreath presentation sponsored by a Vietnam veteran, remarks from family members whose loved ones died from complications they attribute to Agent Orange exposure, a reading by a Vietnam veteran and a display recognizing people affected by toxic exposure.

Organizers also are encouraging municipalities and residents to participate in the observance. Barrett said Spindale and Forest City are supporting the effort through orange ribbons and other public displays. 

The committee hopes the ceremony will become an annual observance in Rutherford County and eventually expand into neighboring communities.

Organizers also are using the event to encourage families of Vietnam veterans to learn more about federal veterans benefits that may be available to veterans, surviving spouses and dependents in qualifying circumstances.

Another focus is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's In Memory Program, which honors veterans who served in Vietnam and later died, including those whose deaths occurred after returning home.

The Aug. 10 ceremony is also intended to build awareness ahead of The Wall That Heals' November visit to Rutherford County.

The traveling memorial allows visitors to see a three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and provides an opportunity for veterans, families and younger generations to learn about the more than 58,000 service members whose names are inscribed on the memorial in Washington.

Barrett said the two events are intended to create opportunities for Rutherford County residents to learn about the Vietnam generation and the continuing consequences of military service and toxic exposure.

“The more people understand,” Barrett said, “the better we can honor those who served and the families who continue to carry that legacy.”

For information about the ceremony or The Wall That Heals Rutherford County, organizers can be reached at 828-351-4955 or thewallthathealsspindalenc@gmail.com. Information is also available at thewallthathealsspindalenc2026.org.