'The Wall' honors Vietnam vets for 20 years

Air Force Link ^ | 11/07/02 | Unknown

[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

[MistyCA]

Yes, he was 18 also. He enlisted at 17. He still has, of course, that picture of Ann Margret.

[Alamo-Girl]

I join in your salute to all vets!!!!

[MistyCA]

BTW, that attack on the base earned him his Commendation Medal because at the time his CO was unable to respond. All of 18 yrs old, it was my husband who organized and implimented a response. Other than newspaper articles and the paperwork which accompanied the medal, I know little about it. Its another one of those things that he never talks about. It's interesting that you were there at the same time.

[CIB-173RDABN]

The Viet Nam war was a war of the young. Unlike WWII and later Korea, most of the ground troops were right out of High School. It says alot about our Country that boys could become responsible men, at such a young age.

I suspect your husband treasures the photo of Ann Margaret a little more then his medal. ;-)

[MistyCA]

Yes. I have been married to him since 1973. I just learned about the medal this year. I have known about the picture of Ann Margret for many years! :) Just goes to show! :)

[SAMWolf]

It was my pleasure to "look it over".

I sort of envy your Dutch visitors getting to see what I haven't.

[The Mayor]

I'm taking this opportunity to thank you. You have always thought about the troops and your heart has always been on the right causes. God Bless you Samwolf for your honesty and integrity.

I want to thank you both!!

[SAMWolf]

Thank you Mayor, it means a lot to me right now.

[Chong]

Your post #225

That was absolutely beautiful, nicollo, it moved me to tears. Hope you do write a book about it soon.

May God bless our troops. I pray that He put protective shield over our men and women in the Armed Forces as we inevitably go into Iraq in the near future.

My sincere thanks to all who served.

[nicollo]

Chong, you're an easy cry... Just like me. I choke every time I walk into the Lincoln Memorial, and I did again today.

SAMWolf, it was a lovely, amazing scene today by the Wall. We were there early, so it wasn't too crowded, as I imagine it was later and will be on Monday.

I explained the story, explained the symbolism to my guests, then walked them through. God, I nearly died when I saw a baseball at the base of the Wall. Of all the things left there, portraits, photos, flowers, this one got me the most. (Yes, Chong, I had to choke those tears back, too). Things like that kill you, that and beer cans, drunk in someone's honor with friendship, love and a broken heart.

After, one of the Dutchmen asked me, "that's not very American, is it?" I smiled a crooked smile, for the answer was yes and no. I avoided it with a story about the reaction to the wall, that it was perceived as un-american by some, and by how it is truly remarkable in its un-american aspect, cleary a demonstration of a changed land. It was an interesting question, and it took me a while to fully answer. I got it out, finally, that it's only un-ameircan in so far as some people see it as a representation of a failure.

That's it!

Well, I took them over to the White House and Washington's cathedral. On the way they asked me if the American people want to go to war in Iraq. I said yes. Then I told them that the American people will do anything, pay any price if they think it is just. We abandoned Vietman, I explained, under the false impression that the war was not just. If the American people feel that killing Saddam Hussein is justice, Saddam better prepare his will.

There was more, and it went over well. I love teaching Euros about America. I always start out by telling them that they will learn this day why Americans are so crazy. Then I prove it to them.

[SAMWolf]

Thnaks Nicollo for the followup to your previous post.

I just know that a visit to the "Wall" has to be awe inspiring and heart breaking at the same time.

[Chong]

Nicollo,
Thanks as always for your post. You serve our country well every chance you get and I respect you for it. Oh, the baseball..........damn...

I got it out, finally, that it's only un-american in so far as some people see it as a representation of a failure.

Good answer. Keep teaching! :-)

[Chong]

Received this from a friend who is a Nam Vet. Thought this thread was a good place to share it.

I Can't

For you it was the News......................For me it was Reality.
You called for Pizzas............................I called for Medics.
You watched Construction...................I performed Destruction.
You watched children Play...................I watched them Die.
You learned of Life..............................I learned of Death.
Your passion was to Succeed..............Mine was to Survive.
You served Dinner...............................I served my Country.
You Forgot..........................................I Can't.

[nicollo]

Thanks & *BUMP*