The first time I visited it was late at night. It was very, very quiet there, even though there were a few other people around. Everyone was very respectful and hushed. It was like a spiritual experience.
I agree with you : most moving memorial I’ve ever seen.
It choked me up and I do not cry easily, nor did I know anyone on the wall.
Reading your experience about the wall makes me think of mine. We have a Vietnam veteran’s park near my home. Thy have a moving wall display every year or so. It’s about 3/4 scale. I’ve had occasion to stop by while riding my bicycle to work at 6:30 am with fog settled low on the ground. After I left, I had to stop at a park bench and gather myself back up.
This year, I told one of the vets at the wall that I really hate when they bring it over cause it causes me to lose my composure every time. I’ve seen the moving wall and the real one. For some reason, the moving one is more emotional to me.
I truly hope that whoever did this is caught and very publicly made to pay for his actions...very publicly. Personally, I’d chain him to a lightpost near the memorial, fence him in (to keep him alive) and leave him there for about a week.
I have been to many War Memorials, in many places. The only two which approach the power of the Vietnam Memorial are the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Iwo Jima Memorial. And in terms of personal feelings brought forth, the "Wall" is the most powerful.
Congressman Billybob
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