Reflections on the Wall

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the men and women who served in the Vietnam War. Its main monument, known as 'The Wall' is the most visited memorial in Washington, DC.

"The Moving Wall" is a half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for more than twenty years. It came to my town the week after Memorial Day, for a 5-day exhibition.

The names of the 58,202 men and women killed in Vietnam are listed on 150 panels, each 3 inches thick, 40 inches wide, and vary in height from 18 inches to 10 feet 9 inches.

I was there to support Larry, a Vietnam veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, a veteran’s rights activist, a Yosemite National Park firefighter. And one of my best friends.

The Wall stands as a testament to the Americans who gave their lives fighting in the name of their country. It's unique and controversial form serves as a reminder of the division felt between those who supported America’s involvement, and those who did not.

Larry’s also a “wallie”. When he’s at the Wall (either the real one in DC or one of the moving walls), his job is to help visitors find names, place their tokens of remembrance or just have a shoulder to cry on.

During the 1982 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dedication it took a 56-hour vigil to read every name on the Wall.

I’ve visited the Wall in DC several times. It’s always a very powerful, very emotional and usually tearful experience. I know people on the wall. I wore a POW/MIA bracelet for many years – Captain William O. Fuller was my lost soldier.

A Congressional Medal of Honor winner who had volunteered to read the names at the 1982 dedication lasted 5 minutes before he broke down. He read the rest of the names on his knees.

Though the Moving Wall was half-size, the crowd was full-size. And the emotional response to this replica? Genuine. Heartfelt. There are still lots of open wounds from that war. It’s an amazing monument. And an amazing replica of a monument.

We shall be remembered, we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
For he today who sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother.