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To: Cee-gar Man US Marine; Kelly_2000; kstewskis; Victoria Delsoul; ALOHA RONNIE; Neets; MozartLover; ..
THE WALL

On a drizzly D.C. morning in the middle of July, my brother brought me downtown to the Mall. Pass the watchful eyes of Lincoln, beneath the weeping summer sky, we crossed the street to the little green and visited the Wall.

I remember I was nervous then, I guess a little scared, cause I wasn't sure how I'd react at all. To see the names of the service men who'd been recorded there, who'd heard the final roll call and assembled at the wall.

And every name's a father, or a husband, or a son. Or a daughter, or a brother, or a cousin to someone. Or a name might be a classmate or a friend you may recall. There's nearly 60,000 fallen men awaiting at The Wall.

The Wall is many granite sections, a solid pool of black, a visitor may pause to touch a name. It just seems that in the dark reflection's hands are reaching back, as if to greet and touch and hold the hands of those who came. Someone might stoop to leave a rose, a letter or a poem, a message to a young man loved and lost. And assure they still remember those who never made it home, who built the wall so long and tall, and paid the bitter price.

And every name's a father, or a husband or a son. Or a daughter or a brother, or a cousin to someone. Or a name might be a classmate or a friend you may recall. There's nearly 60,000 fallen men awaiting at The Wall.

As I watched the lines of people that passed by in slow parade, I read a different story in each face. And I couldn't help but wonder at the pilgrimage we made, what common bond if any, might have brought us to this place. There were tourists, and the curious, and some veterans who came, still others who'd son had served through it all. But the only thing I'm sure of is we left not quite the same, with our memories a lyin there awaiting at The Wall.

And every name's a father, or a husband or a son. Or a daughter, or a brother, or a cousin to someone. Or a name might be a classmate or a friend you may recall. There's nearly 60,000 fallen men waiting at The Wall.

There's nearly 60,000 men waiting at The Wall.

-Tim Murphy

53 posted on 05/30/2005 6:15:56 AM PDT by Northern Yankee (Habemus Papum)
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To: Northern Yankee; ALOHA RONNIE; Victoria Delsoul
Beautiful.

If you get a chance, EWTN has a repeat of "The World Over" showing in a few minutes (9am Central, 7am Pacific) and tonight (10pm Central, 8pm Pacific) ofan interview with Hal Moore, talking about his faith, and Ia Drang.

At the very end, there is a clip of a gathering at The Wall. Ronnie, I think I saw you in there?

Today we remember. God Bless those who have served us, and shed their blood for us.

We will never forget.

61 posted on 05/30/2005 6:55:36 AM PDT by kstewskis ("Lord, let me not be deceived..." ks)
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