At the Wall

The Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial is near us this weekend.

We are honored and privileged to be able to view it.

The amazing thing about this Moving Wall is that it is entirely the idea of one man.  According to the website "When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the positive power of "The Wall." He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington."

I'm really glad he had the idea.


Last night we attended a ceremony dedicated to the wall.  We watched veterans crying as they found names of their brothers-in-arms.  We saw flowers and memorials left at the wall in memory of loved ones.  It was truly inspiring. 

As we walked the length of the wall and saw the names, name after name stretching out in front of us I couldn't help but think of all the people who must have grieved over every single name.  58,195 men and women.  Twice as many parents.  Siblings, Friends, Husbands and Wives.  Children.


I fought back tears. 

And I sort of wish all the War Memorials had moving replicas of themselves.  Even though I've been to Washington D.C. and seen a lot of them, it's a whole new feeling to have it right in your backyard.  The whole town is draped in flags and bunting.  And the local veterans are pouring out of the wood work.  They congregate and tell war stories.  Seeing their pain and their pride makes me feel it too.