When The Wall That Heals crossed into Pennsylvania, Girard was one of the first communities to see it, and they were ready.

People and American flags lined both sides of Main St. to watch the 53-foot trailer carrying The Wall That Heals pass by.

It was surrounded by a seemingly endless escort of motorcycles.

An honor guard from American Legion Post 494 in Girard stood at attention in the boulevard to show their reverence for the men and women in uniform who gave their lives in the Vietnam War.

They spoke with Erie News Now about what this visit means and their own plans to visit The Wall That Heals this weekend.

"Respect, that is the Vietnam wall coming through," said Commander Andy Vasilik, American Legion Post 494. "Those ones on that wall are the ones that didn't come home. Everybody knows the ones that did come home never got a welcoming home. This means a lot to us and to them, to our American Legion and all these guys standing behind me."

"I know there's quite a large presence that's planning on going it multiple times over the weekend," Lisa Vasilik, president of Unit 494 Auxiliary.

Girard has its own traditional Memorial Day service planned for Monday at the cemetery. They hope many people will turn out for that as well.