Posted on 05/26/2002 10:09:57 AM PDT by Bowana
The Virtual Wall- An Internet Memorial
I visited The Vietnam Memorial, The Wall, in Washington D.C.. As we approached the wall people were talking and looking around the park, young and old alike. As we got closer to the wall it got quieter and quieter. The long line viewing the names on the wall was totally silent. A few approached to rub a pencil over a piece of paper and others just left personal items to honor their lost ones. These actions could not help but move anyone standing nearby. I was awestruck by the amount of people standing there and the total silence along the entire wall.
Now for those that have been to The Vietnam Memorial or those that haven't, there is a "Virtual Wall" on the Internet to honor those who died in service to our country.
In 1998 Winstar Communications and The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund created "the Virtual Wall", an Internet website in honor of the men and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. Visitors can view an interactive image of the wall and zoom in on the names on the wall.
Visitors may add their own personal memorials to the names on the wall and even get a Virtual name rubbing. There is no charge to join The Virtual Wall and by doing so you may enter remembrances of those people you knew that lost their lives and even create your own personalized "My Virtual Wall" to keep track of postings to those that you knew.
Each name on the Virtual Wall links to a personal profile of that person. There is also the ability to link to those on the wall who have things in common with the person that you are viewing like; Other Veterans with the same last name who died in Vietnam, other Veterans from the same state, others who died on the same day, others who died in the same area of Vietnam, and others in the same branch of service.
For anyone who has any interest in The Vietnam War and those who died there for America, this site is a must see.
The Virtual Wall: http://www.thevirtualwall.org/
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"In the fall of 1982, a U.S. Navy officer walked up to the trench where the concrete for the foundation of The Wall was being poured. He stood over the trench for a moment, then tossed something into it and saluted. A workman asked him what he was doing. He said he was giving his dead brother's Purple Heart to The Wall. That was the first offering."
A book "Offerings at the Wall" is a collection of pictures and stories of items left at the Wall. The Smithsonian Institute has many of these items on exhibit. Some of them can be seen on their website:
http://photo2.si.edu/offerings/offerings.html
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My story from an MSNBC show called "Headliners and Legends" about an item left at the wall:
The Torment of War
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Happy Memorial Day to All, and To All that served and are serving our country now, I say THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!<
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DONALD CHRISTIE was born on August 20, 1948 and joined the Armed Forces while in HAZLET, NJ. He served as a 11B40 in the Army. In 1 year of service, he attained the rank of SSGT/E5.
On June 13, 1969, at the age of 20, DONALD CHRISTIE perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang Tin.
You can find DONALD CHRISTIE honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 22W, Row 39. |
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Would one of you ping the vet list to this thread. I wish it had been posted on the main News/Activism side so all would notice.
Thank you in advance and thank you both for your dedication to those who serve and have served, especially to those of our generation who made the ultimate sacrifice in VietNam.
I waited for 4 1/2 hours after posting it to "General Interest"! After no replies I posted it to the News/Activism side!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/689896/posts
Glad someone finally found it!
As a high school junior and senior, I was privileged to wear the MIA bracelet of SSGT Richard Allan Fitts from Abington, MA. The bracelet has long since disappeared in one of the 20+ moves I've endured over the last 29 years, but I have never forgotten his name.
I found the following bio at the Virtual Wall:
RICHARD ALLAN FITTS was born on February 23, 1946 and joined the Armed Forces while in ABINGTON, MA.
He served as a 12B3S in the Army, and attained the rank of SSGT/E6.
RICHARD ALLAN FITTS is listed as Missing in Action.
This means more to me than you can possibly know. I look forward to the day when I can visit the tangible wall and make a rubbing of SSGT Fitts's name.
Bowana, God Bless you for posting this.
For later reading.
Do you have any idea how I can contact his family? The article didn't provide any leads.
Again, thank-you and God Bless.
Clarke, Goward, Fitts & Mattes
535 BOYLSTON STREET
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-536-7611
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