'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

[MistyCA]

that is awesome.

[bluesagewoman]

Thanks SAM for all you've done for us, and for me!

The Wall is beautiful. So are our Veterans.

[CIB-173RDABN]

I did not like the design for the memorial when I first saw it. However, as time passed, I think it has become a very fitting memorial.

[MistyCA]

I love that picture. thanks so much for posting it.

[CIB-173RDABN]

Search for a name

[Cicero]

When the design for The Wall was first released, there was a firestorm of objections. Most people thought it was an insult to those who fought in Vietnam. As I recall, the winner of the design contest was a young Asian woman.

Anyway, once it was built, and people came to see it, they sure changed their minds. Unquestionably it was a masterpiece, the most moving possible tribute to those whose names appear on it.

I'm not usually a fan of modern art and architecture, which I suppose is what this is. But once in a while a work of art transcends the common and trivial, and that's certainly what happened here.

[MistyCA]

In it's simplicity it still jolts the heart and numbs the senses. It is awesome, but I believe it is because it is so simple. It speaks to you, not for you. And it does reflect the soul. I am forever overwhelmed by it.

[SpookBrat]

Thanks for this thread. It makes me sad. This is the only name I know on the wall. This is my mothers cousin and he was killed when I was 3 months old. I don't know much about my mothers side of the family and don't know if this is true or not, but I remember my uncle telling me this: Stephen was one of 5 brothers. 4 of them were good for nothing and Stephen was the only good one who was ever going to amount to anything. I hope that's not true today. But it was a tragic loss for the family then, because Stephen was so good. He's in a better place and I look forward to getting to know him someday.

STEPHEN LEE BRADDOCK

2LT - O1 - Army - Reserve
21 year old Married, Caucasian, Male
Born on Dec 29, 1946
From ABILENE, TEXAS
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Dec 13, 1967
Casualty was on Jan 31, 1968
in GIA DINH, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
BAPTIST

Panel 35E - - Line 88

[CIB-173RDABN]

Items left at the wall

[Jen]

Please never remove me from your ping list Sam. ;-)

In honor of all Vietnam Vets who were never properly welcomed home, I hope you enjoy this song.

<====

[RadioAstronomer]

It makes me sad. This is the only name I know on the wall. This is my mothers cousin and he was killed when I was 3 months old.

awwww! I am sorry to hear that Spookie. :-(

[MistyCA]

thanks, Jen.

[RadioAstronomer]

I have been to The Wall also. What a special place. I made a rubbing for a friend who's cousin died in Nam. I was honored i was able to do that for him.

[SAMWolf]

Thank you Blue. How'd the Freep go?

[MistyCA]

My husband has not been able to bring himself to risk the resurgence of that much emotion about Vietnam. But we went to the traveling wall and have plans to go to Washington. I think it brings peace to the soul and a healing. I want that for him so much. He has a number of friends on the wall. I have one that I know of. I am sure it was a great honor to have done that for your friend.

[RadioAstronomer]

If there is ANYTHING I can do to help, please dont even hesitate to ask.

Your friend

Michael

[SAMWolf]

I agree with you there. It's like RANGERAIRBORNE said though:

the veterans, themselves, have made it an icon of courage and sacrifice.