Vietnam Travelling Wall visited the Burgh

[BAM-BAM]

The Vietnam Traveling Wall spent the 4th of July weekend in our "Burb of the Burgh".

It was an 80% scale model of the one in DC..... the largest of the traveling walls at 8ft tall and over 350 feet long. We had it open 24/7 from last Thursday through noon on the 4th.

Hard to say how many came to see it; but based on the traffic; in groups of 2 to 6 along with single visitors........ we're guesstimating 8000+. But on the 3rd (fireworks night) alone the crowd in the Park swells to around 10,000; many of whom stopped by.

Spent some time working the tent ...... where we could look up names, to find their location on the wall for visitors............ got to hear a lot of interesting stories.....husbands , friends, old neighbors or school mates.

A lot of Vet on Vet talks about their own histories........ in country.

On the flip side a lot of names weren't there as ''expected" ...... so a lot of happy endings also.

After dark.....it was lit up..... and IMHO the best hours for viewing.

Yesterday about 25 of us, from the Twp Manager and Chief of Police to volunteers helped break it down........in about an hour and a half and it all fits in a 30ft trailer hauled by a pickup.

Guessing now I should have posted this last week...... but it was on TV and in the local papers......... as an FYI it will be back in W Pa. in late August at the Old Butler VA Hospital.

If you haven't been to DC ........ and this wall comes anywhere near your home ..... take time and make the trip......... as I said the best time to view it, IMO, is after dark. My understanding is it's always lit and at least here we had volunteers to help find names and a police presence 24/7.

 

[bgrafsr]

The "Traveling Wall" was in Ohio a couple of weeks ago and my fiancee and I went to see it. Quite sobering.

 

[tlawler]

I've visited traveling walls on several occasions and now we have a permanent mini-wall here in Punta Gorda, FL. I've never visited the one in D.C., but hope to some day because my brother is on it.

 

[pmanton]

I get emotional just thinking about the Wall. I'm not sure I'd be able to visit it in person and keep my composure.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I get emotional just thinking about the Wall. I'm not sure I'd be able to visit it in person and keep my composure.

One of the stated reasons for keeping it open 24/7......... was to let Vets come when there were few, if any others, around;..... and while the wall is lit...... visitors are at best "in shadow".


Not "keeping composure"........ was not uncommon and......... understood. Other Vets volunteering were great in these situations........
Got several guys hooked up with a IIRC a "Veterans Traveling Breakfast" Group in the area.

...

 

[halvenut]

Haven't been to the D.C. wall but have been to the traveling ones several times when they've been in the area. About time to go again.

 

[Jebus35745]

It was nice that you helped people that visited the wall. I was in the gulf of Tonkin when the treaty was signed on the USS America. The country was kinda bitter abt the war and we returned with only a welcome from our families. The protests kept going. It was sad to see some of the guys from school come back and be buried at such a young age as in any war. We visited the wall when we took a vacation in DC, nice tribute. We walked to each monument there to kinda pay respect to every conflict.

When the wall goes to each city it visits, it's the people like you that help make it a success. Hey thanks Brad, Larry (table Buddies)

 

[PALADIN85020]

The traveling wall came to the Phoenix area a number of years ago, and a few names were on it who were my friends when they were alive. Just a couple of years ago I got to see the real wall in DC, and made a rubbing of one of the names - one of my best friends in high school when we were JROTC cadet officers.

Both walls were very emotional to view. It's hard when you realize that each name on the wall used to be a living, breathing person whose life was cut short and who had a family and friends who cared deeply over the gut-wrenching loss. Here's a pic I took in DC.

John

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

John, that is a great photo.

I first visited the wall about 10 years ago at 0600, in the company of one of my sons, a USMC vet. The second visit was with my best friend 2 Springs ago. He was Commander of his Legion Post and took rubbings of the 2 men from the community his post serves. It was about 1300 when we were there.

It is very easy to tell tourists from respecters!

Ivan

 

[BAM-BAM]

The wall in the Burgh had enough definition that rubbings were possible .......and I'd guess several thousand were done.................

The toughest thing for me was our screens would show; the date a ''Tour" started; the date of death and......... bit of how each was killed/died.

The shortest I recall was in less than a week in country; with more than a few in the last month to six weeks..............on July 3rd alone I saw; 3 suicides, 2 homicides, a drowning and a suffocation....... numerous accidental deaths and several "by misadventure".......... lots of deaths attributed to helicopter crashes ........... almost made one glad to see a death by enemy fire.

Many visitors couldn't spell non-family members last name ..........but knew the date of their deaths...............

 

[Rustyt1953]

Three years ago, I posted on this forum, what I penned as I sat and stared at the wall at dusk:

"The memorial is dark and ominous. It is severe in its delivery. It sits crouched and imposing in the night shadows. There are no cherubs, no fancy florets, no gilding, no scroll work. It almost has a raw and angry feel to it. It stares back at you with somber, heavy eyes and whispers "look upon my feet. Look at medals and pieces of hearts that were left here by those who feel guilt at surviving.
The wall was designed to invoke crushing sadness, tear welling pride for the fallen and unashamed love for those that wore and wear the uniform of this country."

 

[BAM-BAM]

Look at all the names.................................58,25x ..........

and we still ask ourselves................ why

 

[BAM-BAM]

Bump,,,,, to encourage others to visit The Wall if it comes to their area.