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'The Wall' honors Vietnam vets for 20 years
Air Force Link ^ | 11/07/02 | Unknown

Posted on 11/09/2002 10:44:11 AM PST by SAMWolf

'The Wall' honors Vietnam vets for 20 years

Thousands will gather at the National Mall in the coming days to witness and participate in ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The weeklong remembrance began with a musical tribute to Vietnam veterans Nov. 6 and will end with a Veterans Day observance Nov. 11. In between, more than 1,000 volunteers will read the names inscribed on "The Wall," starting at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and ending at midnight Nov. 10.

It is only the third time in The Wall's history that all 58,229 names will be read aloud. Volunteers, each reciting an average of 30 names, will read for about 19 hours each day Nov. 8-10. The full list of names was read in 1982 as part of the memorial's dedication and again in 1992 during activities commemorating the memorial's 10th anniversary.

Master Sgt. Angeline Robinson, the Pentagon's vice president of the Washington Area Top 3, will attend a reading for the second time, although this will be her first as a participant. She attended The Wall's 10th anniversary reading, and obtained a "wall rubbing" on behalf of her boss at the time, Adm. David E. Jeremiah, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The name of Jeremiah's nephew was one of those being read.

"When I remembered that, this year's reading became very significant to me," she said. "I decided to participate because it's a way to honor those who went before us."

Thirty-four Air Force members from the Washington Area Top 3 will read 540 names, beginning at 11:24 p.m. Nov. 8.

"It's a way for us to give back," Robinson said. "It's as simple as that."

For some, though, the symbolism of reading the names on The Wall goes deeper. One of those is Bao Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American who was once jailed by the North Vietnamese, later served as a South Vietnamese Army officer, and currently works at the Pentagon on the Air Force Chief Information Officer's staff.

"Each year (on Veterans Day), I have a need to express my gratitude to all American veterans in general, all the Vietnam veterans in particular, and to the more than 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for their sacrifices to defend the freedom of a people in a place they hardly knew," Nguyen said. "(And it's) not just me alone. Overseas, Vietnamese are forever grateful for those sacrifices."

For more information on the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Web site


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: veteransday; vietnam; wall
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To: MistyCA; Victoria Delsoul; souris

The Vietnam Service Medal
and
The Vietnam Campaign Medal

201 posted on 11/09/2002 8:25:15 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Thank you. A nice slow song.
202 posted on 11/09/2002 8:29:06 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: SAMWolf
Thanks Sam.
203 posted on 11/09/2002 8:29:17 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: CIB-173RDABN
I know a Marine who was there real early. He says the Movie "Go Tell the Spartans" is his recollection of waht it was like. I relate more to the "Hamburger Hill" time period.
204 posted on 11/09/2002 8:31:32 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: Victoria Delsoul; SAMWolf
Time to call it a night...thanks for the thread, SAM, it was a winner.
And Victoria, you just keep on bein' you, okay?
(Special, that is!)
205 posted on 11/09/2002 8:33:01 PM PST by HiJinx
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To: redhead
LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON was born on October 31, 1951 and joined the Armed Forces while in PROVO, UT.
He served as a 67A1F in the Army, and attained the rank of SP4/E4.
On July 22, 1970, at the age of 18, LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Phuoc Long.
You can find LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 8W, Row 42.

This is my young brother-in-law. This little profile doesn't tell you that he left a young wife and two small daughters, or that Larry and Linda were childhood sweethearts. It doesn't tell you that he and his wife were distant cousins. I am determined to honor this young man. With the exception of his parents, spouse and children and siblings, I don't think anyone has given him personal, individual honor for his service since the day the flag was presented to Linda and the casket was lowered into the ground. We all honor all our fallen heroes, but it would take forever to give each of them the recognition he deserves, so we usually honor them as a group of whatever size. For this reason, I post this information here, so you all can know that Larry has never been forgotten.

206 posted on 11/09/2002 8:38:29 PM PST by redhead
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To: HiJinx
Good night HiJinx.
207 posted on 11/09/2002 8:38:53 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: redhead
LARRY DU WAYNE JOHNSON

208 posted on 11/09/2002 8:40:17 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: CIB-173RDABN
Hi there. It's nice to meet you on this thread. Thank you for serving our country!

I agree with you about biased reporting. I was a public affairs officer in the Air Force and had to deal with media daily.

Jen (USAF)
209 posted on 11/09/2002 8:47:27 PM PST by Jen
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To: HiJinx
Good night Jinxie. Sorry I didn't see you earlier tonight. {{HUG}}
210 posted on 11/09/2002 8:48:14 PM PST by Jen
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To: MistyCA
Hi Misty,

One of the first job of the 173rd Airborne Brigade was to provide security for the air base at Bien Hoa. Ask him if he was at the Bob Hope show in 1965. If so, we were in the same audience.

Memories are funny things, it is strange what can trigger a memory, a familiar sight, a sound, a smell or music. One such trigger for me is a song they came out in the 60s that includes the name of a comrade. When I hear that song, it always brings me back to the day and time I heard he had been killed.

One demon that haunts many veterans is the question "why me, why did I survive, and they didn't.

Living can sometimes be harder then dying.

211 posted on 11/09/2002 8:48:29 PM PST by CIB-173RDABN
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To: Mr_Magoo; All



A-7 Corsair

212 posted on 11/09/2002 8:51:29 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: redhead
In honor and memory of Larry DuWayne Johnson

<====

213 posted on 11/09/2002 8:51:49 PM PST by Jen
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To: SAMWolf
Hi Sam,

The only Viet Nam era movie I have seen was John Wayne's Green Beret. I have not seen any of the others. Stange huh? I have seen Civil War movies, WWI and WWII movies, but I can not bring myself to go to a Viet Nam war movie.

But, I have not been able to bring myself to go see the wall either.

214 posted on 11/09/2002 8:52:11 PM PST by CIB-173RDABN
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To: CIB-173RDABN
I actually saw "Green Berets" in Phuoc Vinh in 1970 at the Base "theatre".

Man, was there ever the hooting and hollering over that one.
215 posted on 11/09/2002 8:55:08 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: SAMWolf
I can top that, when we were back at the base, we would have movies and they would show us the old one hour TV show Combat with Vic Morrow. Then again, maybe it was considered training ;-)
216 posted on 11/09/2002 8:57:53 PM PST by CIB-173RDABN
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To: CIB-173RDABN
"The only Viet Nam era movie I have seen was John Wayne's Green Beret. I have not seen any of the others. Stange huh? I have seen Civil War movies, WWI and WWII movies, but I can not bring myself to go to a Viet Nam war movie."

I used to be able to say that I'd never seen a Viet Nam era movie until I bought "We Were Soldiers." My husband and I watched it (I should say HE watched it. I couldn't believe how realistic it was, how agonizing, how heartbreaking. I'd come out to watch it, and my hands would involuntarily cover my eyes, and I'd have to leave the room for a few minutes. It is not for the faint of heart. Don't feel bad if you can't stand to see the things that touch those memories. Most of the rest of us can't, either. (((CIB-173RDABN))) Thanks for serving, and thanks for coming home! God bless you.

217 posted on 11/09/2002 9:00:20 PM PST by redhead
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To: HiJinx
Thanks so much, Jinx. I'm glad to have so many good friends like you.

Hope to see you soon.


218 posted on 11/09/2002 9:02:45 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: CIB-173RDABN
Now that was a great TV series!


219 posted on 11/09/2002 9:04:03 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: redhead
You have done Larru Du Wayne Johnson proud with your testimonial to his courage and sacrifice.I am glad you have shared it with all of us.
220 posted on 11/09/2002 9:04:09 PM PST by habs4ever
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