Van of Valor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Van of Valor” Comes to American Heritage Museum for a Historic Night of Patriotism and Sacrifice

Event features 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor Marc Fucarile and authors Dr. Kevin P. Wallace and L. Wright Wallace just 48 hours before America’s 250th birthday.

HUDSON, MA (June 28, 2026) – Just two days before the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the American Heritage Museum will host a powerful evening bridging centuries of American sacrifice. On Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 6:00 P.M., the museum presents “History After Hours: Oral Histories of American Patriotism,” a special town hall event featuring the authors of the newly released book, Van of Valor.

Retired Senior Master Sergeant Dr. Kevin P. Wallace, a Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart recipient, alongside Harvard Extension School student and anthropologist L. Wright Wallace, will present their extraordinary journey of preserving the firsthand accounts of American heroes. The evening will be moderated by Marc Fucarile, a resilient survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and founder of the MARC Network.

The event is included with standard museum admission and will run from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Released by Ballast Books of Valor Press on June 30, 2026, Van of Valor chronicles the Wallaces’ relentless 280-day mission across America. Living out of a converted FedEx fleet van that served as their home, vehicle, and mobile recording studio, they covered over 27,000 miles—a distance equivalent to driving from Boston across the Earth’s circumference and then continuing on to San Diego. Despite multiple breakdowns, they preserved the stories of 317 Purple Heart recipients, Prisoners of War, and Gold Star Families, carrying the names of more than 440 fallen heroes on the van’s walls.

The evening will begin with opening remarks from Marc Fucarile, who lost his leg standing just feet from the second blast at the 2013 Boston Marathon finish line. Now a celebrated motivational speaker and founder of the MARC Network—which provides resources for individuals with mobility challenges—Fucarile embodies the evening’s theme of turning tragedy into triumph.

“Having Marc guide this conversation is deeply meaningful,” said Dr. Wallace. “His story is Boston’s story. Surrounded by tanks and aircraft that secured our freedoms, and just two days before America’s 250th birthday, Marc will help us open the floor to veterans and guests to share their own family legacies of service.”

Rather than a traditional lecture, the presentation will transform into a “Town Hall for Heroes,” inviting attendees to explore the length of sacrifice required to build and preserve the nation. While the famed Van of Valor vehicle will not be present, the Wallaces will bring the stories, physical artifacts, and tokens from their mission. The authors will be available for a Q&A session and book signing following the formal talk.

The event will be held amid the museum’s extensive collection of military artifacts, from Sherman tanks to combat aircraft, providing a fitting backdrop for a night of shared patriotism.

Event Details:

What: History After Hours: Oral Histories of American Patriotism

When: Thursday, July 2, 2026, 6:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.

Where: American Heritage Museum, 568 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749

Cost: Included with Standard Museum Admission; Free for American Heritage Museum and NARM members.

Tickets: [Purchase AHM Admission for Thursday, July 2nd]

For more information on Van of Valor, please visit www.HelpVoV.com.

About Van of Valor:

Van of Valor stands alone, the only book of its kind, and it’s about to rock the nation. The work chronicles Dr. and Mrs. Wallace’s relentless 280-day journey across America, preserving the first-person stories of 317 Purple Heart recipients, POWs, and Gold Star Families. Co-author L. Wright Wallace is a current student at the Harvard Extension School.

Media Contact for American Heritage Museum:

Email: ahm@collingsfoundation.org

Website: www.AmericanHeritageMuseum.org

Media Contact for Van of Valor:

Dr. Kevin P. Wallace

Email: Manteo.Creative.Spot@gmail.com