The Wall

[Iggy]

Went to see the traveling Wall today. I have always wanted to make the pilgrimage back to DC to see the real one, but this one is awe inspiring and impressive.

Folks left keepsakes and such under the names of friends and kin. At the conclusion of the closing ceremony, they were collected, carried, and placed in a SS casket and will be interred in the military section of the cemetery here in Cheyenne.

All in all a heart wrenching and healing experience.

I think I might be a bit taller than I was when I got up this morning.

If you comes your way, don't miss it.

 

[max]

I have seen the traveling wall twice and the real thing the year after it opened. It is just very hard to describe.

 

[Indiana George]

A few short years ago, the traveling Wall made a stop here in Lafayette, Indiana. With a number of spots to set up the display, they chose a location within walking distance from the Indiana Veterans Home.

As Max indicated, it is an experience that I am unable to describe.
To say that the emotion was powerful, would be an understatement.

I will also add that the afternoon that I visited, there were many high school and Purdue students in attendance and ALL were respectful.

 

[cass]

Just East of Mineral Wells Texas is a Viet Nam Memorial Park that has the wall as a permanent fixture. It's well worth the visit.

 

[steveno]

the Wall will be in Kearney , Nebraska at the arch July 1 thru 4

 

[mg357]

i saw the traveling wall when it visited in chillicothe illinois when i saw it i was humbled very humbled

 

[ditrina]

All Gave Some...
Some Gave All......

Thank you Iggy for reminding us..

 

[Big Cholla]

I was in Wash.D.C. on other business when the actual 'Wall' was dedicated. The day before the actual dedication I stopped on the Mall to take a look. I was floored at the emotional impact I felt. Due to some really big security clearances I had at the time, I missed Vietnam. I actually only knew personally one person who's name is on the wall. But the impact I felt from the visual of 58,000+ names displayed on that two-part monolith gave me a healthy dislike of all of our Politicians of that era. The enormity of their lack of honesty they exhibited in allowing a travesty like the 'Vietnam War' to take 58,000+ of our best young people about floored me. I was all but physically sick. A few years later I met Robert McNamara face to face on business. I almost couldn't keep my emotions under control enough to conclude my business and get out of his presence. I regard the politicians that elected to get us involved in Vietnam and then didn't allow our armed services to prevail in Vietnam as criminals of the worst order. IMHO, the whole 'Vietnam' episode of the USA's history will be reviewed as the low point in the whole of the USA's recorded history. ..... Big Cholla

 

[Jimfix44]

Iggy - I graduated from High School the year after the war ended. I had a # but didn't get drafted nor did I serve.
I have the utmost respect and am totally grateful for all who served in VN. Thank you all.
That said - I have seen the traveling wall and the one in our Nations Capitol (the Wall in DC 3 times now). It is an awesome place to visit and reflect. If you ever get close go and see it. It sits in an amazing location in the Capitol, directly to the left and in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Across the Reflecting Pool from The Wall and to Lincoln's right is the Korean Memorial and in front of Lincoln is the WWII Memorial. Of course behind the Lincoln Memorial and across the River is Arlington Cemetary.
The Wall is one of two places in our country I think you also need retrurn to and see at night (the other is Mt Rushmore).

 

[kraigwy]

I've tried a few times, its just something I can't do. Tried it in DC, when it was in Sheridian.

Call it survivers guilt or what ever, I haven't been able to pull it off.

My Granddaughter went to DC and did get some rubbings for me, she has more guts then I do.

 

[Jimfix44]

One more thing.... It took me a long time to write my repsonse above. There was just so much to remember and so many emotions that I could have written all night on Iggy's post. Big Cholla's post was not in when I started writing mine. So after posting I read his. I concur with all of it!
Here's the one thing I wanted to put in my first post but didn't (I don't like to expose my political thoughts on message boards) but I feel strongly on this one. Like I said I didn't have to go the Vietnam and am grateful for those who did.
I think our soldiers were treated like s--- when they returned. They were just doing what their country asked(/told) them to do. Thankfully for the most part we have that fixed now. The men and women who serve now at least are not treated like criminals when they come home. Again they are just doing what our country asks them to do. If there is one lesson from VN hopefully it is to respect our kids who serve - politics aside.
Not sure I said that the way I meant to but you get my drift.

 

[palmetto99]

I was in D.C. visiting a friend sometime in the early 1990's. While roaming around, my traveling buddy and I stopped by The Wall. It was Veterans Day. What got to me was the number of men of a certain age that were there and you could tell they were back "in country". God bless those guys, the ones on the wall and those who made it back.

 

[luangtom]

The Traveling-Wall is a good experience for those unable to get to DC and see the full-size memorial. I have visited DC twice. I look at the panel I could have been on and wonder......

Friends are on it, fellow servicemen are on it and I wonder why not me? Was it fate that kept me off the Wall? There is a lingering guilt.

Yes, I am happy that the returning soldiers, airmen and sailors are treated with more respect. However, all are not heroes. Heroes are on the Wall and will be on the next memorial, too. I asked a returning young "hero" how he felt while he locked and loaded and he looked at me like I was crazy. He did not even know what it meant......different war, different time, different generation.

 

[straightshooter1]

I've never seen the traveling wall, but have been to D.C. twice to see the wall there.

It is a very powerful experience and finding the names of those I served with was really overwhelming.

I don't know if I'd go again.

Bob

 

[cudamank]

Thank you gentlemen that served and survived. My father served in Vietnam. When the traveling wall was out here in California a couple of years ago it was nearby where my father, brother and I were working. After work we all three went to see it.

Until that time I had only seen my father shed tears once in 30 some years. (At the passing of my grandmother). It was a quiet ride back to the hotel.

Although I always hold him in high regard, somehow that day made him more human.

 

[TACC1]

IGGY; thanks for posting.

When I went to DC to see the Wall, I could see a U.S. flag
sticking out from the trees. That was rough, but the truly moving
part, for me anyway, was the room set aside for the items left at the
Wall. A six-pack with cigs and lighter, humble things that they
are, has remained etched in my memory ever since. I Know it is
survivor's guilt, but it still hurts

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

First let me express my sincere thanks for those of our men and women that not only served in VN but also have served before and since, and are serving now. I was a freshman in college when the draft lottery was first drawn. I had a middle of the road number and dropped my student deferrment. Had I been drafted I certainly would have served. I had several high school and college friends that served and came home, with the exception of one young man that I had grown up with. When the travelling wall came though the Oklahoma City metro area the first time I went out to see it. I found his name and openly cried. Even reading this thread I get choked up. To me the wall represents the best of our men and women who gave their all and one of the worst times our nation has ever seen.

 

[daveh75]

My father would never go see either the wall in DC or the traveling one. I have been to the one here in DC and I wonder if and when they make one for my war if I will go and see it. During my time in Iraq they made a "wall" of the fallen....I knew some...it was hard. Now I understand my father's reasons.

 

[Wyo]

My wife and I spent some time at the Wall in DC a couple of years ago. It's a very powerful place.

 

[CH47gunner]

I went to see the Traveling Wall in Longmont, Colorado when I lived in Louisville Co., sometime in 1989. I looked up the names I was searching for in the register, but when I approached the Wall I was too choked up to really look and finally had to walk away.

In 2010 I and a partner (an old Army buddy and former Huey Crewchief), went on The Run For The Wall to D.C., for the Rolling Thunder, on Memorial weekend. The run itself was very emotional and uplifting with the welcomes and greetings we got all across the country.

Going to The Wall itself was a whole lot tougher than going to the war.

Bruce