'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

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you very much. Vets bump!

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Interesting that the Wall was designed as an insult to all who served in that war (black, below ground level, etc) by Maya Lin- but the veterans, themselves, have made it an icon of courage and sacrifice.

[MistyCA]

I love that post.

[MistyCA]

[MistyCA]

Wow. I don't think I have seen that before. It's beautiful.

[MistyCA]

I will second that!

[SAMWolf]

Those Who Have Long Enjoyed Such Privileges As We Enjoy,
Forget In Time that Men Have Died To Win Them.
Franklin D. Roosevlet

I'm glad Canada is still teaching about the meaning of Remeberance day in their schools.

[SAMWolf]

No. Not everyone may want to be pinged to articles I'm interested in.

[MistyCA]

[SAMWolf]

We hava a large Vietnamese population in Portland and they have become a very important part of the Memorial Day Services at the Vietnam Memorial here.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for all the great pictures Kneezles.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the bump and additional pings amom.

I hope one of these days to be able to see the Wall. I'm gonna have to hurry though I'm not getting any younger.

[MistyCA]

Visit this wonderful site!

[SAMWolf]

Thanks souris. How are you managing to scrounge up better graphics than me?

[MistyCA]

Bump Vietnam Vets!

[Balata]

Thanks for the ping, MistyCA. Your post in #35 is an awsome picture.

[MistyCA]

thanks, Balata! I am so glad to see you here! :)

[MistyCA]

Bump for Vietnam Vets!