Posted on 11/08/2007 3:00:48 AM PST by Former Military Chick
He was given his father's name at birth. Harry Griffith Cramer III, his birth certificate reads, the son of Harry Griffith Cramer Jr.
The name has stayed with him in a way his father couldn't. It has shaped and molded his life, guiding him through difficult times and giving him strength in moments of weakness. It is one of the few things he has left of his father, so he cherishes every letter of it.
Yesterday, he shared that name with hundreds of people gathered on the Mall, reading it aloud, deliberately and poignantly. And his was just the beginning.
Like a dam unleashed, the names poured forth yesterday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial -- names of all the deceased and missing service members, set in the black granite panels -- one after another.
Family members and volunteers began reading the 58,256 names yesterday afternoon and were to continue until midnight in observance of the 25th anniversary of the Wall. The reading was to resume at 5 this morning and continue until late Saturday evening, with almost 2,000 volunteers taking turns.
As the son of the first Army soldier killed in Vietnam, Hank Cramer was chosen to be yesterday's first reader. He came an hour early to compose his thoughts beneath his father's name at Panel 1, Line 78.
"Harry G. Cramer Jr."
Kelly Coleman-Rihn was 7 months old when her father was killed, a 21-year-old member of the 1st Cavalry Division 2/7th (Airmobile).
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Everyone should make a point to visit the Wall.
Family members and volunteers began reading the 58,256 names yesterday afternoon and were to continue until midnight in observance of the 25th anniversary of the Wall. The reading was to resume at 5 this morning and continue until late Saturday evening, with almost 2,000 volunteers taking turns.
Back when Tim Russert, I believe it was, was threatening to dramatize the losses in Iraq by reading the names of all our slain on a single TV program, we were foolish to be opposed to it. The correct response would have been to encourage it - then suggest to Mr. Russert that he try the same thing for Vietnam.And, far beyond even the roll of the slain in Vietnam, he should undertake to read the names of all those who enlisted to go to Iraq, taking exactly the same risk as the ones who died there took.
During "Rolling Thunder", the annual motorcycle event, I saw a sea of festive bikers flooding the Mall, with a sea of chrome Harley Davidsons.
The mental image of gruff bikers was reinforced until you arrived at The Wall.
There, these men...who if you confronted on a dark street would make you want to cross the street to avoid them...were weeping like little children.
It's something you'll never forget.
50,000 Names on the Wall sung by George Jones
If you slowly scroll down the page, they are printed out for you to see below each photograph ..
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/singingman7/TNOTW.htm
Most of them died thanks to the same Dems who are in power now. We would have won and forced peace if not for Yaaawn Kerry.
Iraq is being won by an amazing group of soldiers. 3800 casualties in 4 years is historic. To bring Lady Liberty to the Iraqis.
Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops
Iraq is being won by an amazing group of soldiers."
Not only are today's soldiers winning THEIR war, they are changing the symbolism of the black Wall.
Many feared that the black color would cast shame on those who served and died in Vietnam. After Iraq, it may well come to pass that the black of the Vietnam Wall will forever symbolize THE NATION'S SHAME for having ignored the sacrifice and abandoned the effort in Vietnam.
In large measure because of today's soldiers in Iraq, those standing before the black Wall in the future will hear thousands upon thousands of eternally young voices whisper, "why?"
“— that from these honored dead we may take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — “
A. Lincoln
November 19, 1863
For me, this illustration never fails to make me cry.
Certainly his motivation was suspect, and more than that. He was trying to embarrass the administration, flat out. And in the process, denigrating the efforts of those who took the same risk going in to Iraq that the lamented fallen took.My point is that jujitsu would have worked in the situation. Let Koppel do his stunt - then point out that by being able to read off the toll of all the KIA in Iraq in a single (albeit long) program he had illustrated how few of them there were compared to Vietnam. And especially how few, compared to how many had taken the same risk going in that the KIA took and, lamentably, paid with their lives for.
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