Another Piece for Memorial Day - The Black Wall
Hello, my brother.
We never met, but I know you. I could be like you, but for the chance of grace or the grace of chance. Instead, I stand here on this side of that long black wall, while you are on the other.
From that place that joined us, the place that made us brothers, I returned in the Freedom Bird, and you returned in a flag-draped box. But we are brothers.
Now I stand here, my fingers tracing the engraved letters that you share with far too many. I wonder if you feel that touch and if you know what I feel from it. The pride, the honor and the satisfaction of serving, of pledging all that I am or will be; those things and more reflect back at me from that burnished stone. The awe of what we knew, of what we saw, of what we tried to accomplish; those things reflect from me – I hope – to those who will follow us.
I come here not to weep, although I do so freely. I come here not to remember, although I do so all too freely. I come here not with bitterness or anger or even sadness. I come here…simply to be with you once again. I come to say the things that were never said to us when we needed to hear them. And yet a million million words would not be enough to repair the hurt we felt at not hearing those things. And so, my brother, I come here with only two.
Thank you.
-
It was sometime ago that the traveling wall was set up at Upstate University here in Spartanburg, SC. I had two friends that didn't come back from Viet Nam. I looked up Mike and Bob's names on the address list/roster thing and went to each of their names. It was maybe 10:30 PM. It was very quiet, almost no one there that late. The kids didn't understand why Dad was crying. 0 -
Rocky, are you responsible for the content of your post?Kudos to you if you are, it is beautifully written.Thank you for posting it.
0 -
Thank you for your service. 0 -
Thank you for posting it.
Thank you for your service.0 -
Yes 0 -
The Wall. A grim, and poignant reminder of the Vietnam War. Rest in Peace, Phil, Ronnie, and David. My friends. Thank you for serving in the Marines.
Quang Tri Vietnam, 1969.0 -
One guy (year older than me) from my small high school didn't come back. My class of Signal Corps officers was the first not to go to Vietnam. The best man at our wedding was a Captain we had both worked with who lost an arm and most of his leg in combat (got the Silver Star for his actions) but managed to retire as a LTC. I still think of him as a casualty of the war.
This picture always makes my monitor go blurry.
I cannot honor those who served enough; nor can I despise LBJ and his accomplices enough.0 -
Halfway down the trail to Hell in a shady meadow green,
are the Souls of all dead troopers camped near a good old-time canteen,
and this eternal resting place is known as Fiddlers' Green.
Marching past, straight through to Hell, the Infantry are seen,
accompanied by the Engineers, Artillery and Marine,
for none but the shades of Cavalrymen dismount at Fiddlers' Green.
Though some go curving down the trail to seek a warmer scene,
no trooper ever gets to Hell ere he's emptied his canteen
and so rides back to drink again with friends at Fiddlers' Green.
And so when man and horse go down beneath a saber keen,
or in a roaring charge fierce melee you stop a bullet clean,
and the hostiles come to get your scalp,
just empty your canteen and put your pistol to your head
and go to Fiddlers' Green.SCOUTS OUT
0 -
I have visited the Vietnam Memorial more than once. It is a very somber, sobering and moving place. I cried each time.
God Bless all our Veterans, and their Sacrifices.
Memorial Day indeed.
0 -
God bless all our souls who have served past present an future 0 -
I didn't write it. I came across it in my Documents folder yesterday just by accident.
I'm the one lower right, Ban Me Thuot Vietnam, 1971.
0 -
From and email this morning:
"Speak their names, and their memories will never die."0 -
Have walked the wall more than one occasion and people I know have their names etched in the granite.
Arlington, and the other memorials honoring our vets are a must see in one lifetime.0 -
The most powerful memorial I ever saw. A classmates name left me sobbing. 0 -
Thank you for posting it.
Thank you for your service.0 -
Viet nam was a defining time for many of the baby boomer generation. I never served ( born deaf in one ear) . Many of my contemporaries were drafted , enlisted and sadly some never came back . Even though they physically returned . I even knew a few who fled to Canada . A hats off salute to all who did their duty and much thanks from here . Anyone who can walk the wall and not be touched and moved is one cold hearted sob
0 -
As I sardonically remarked back then, it was a crappy war but it was the only one going at the time. 3 -
May we find peace for things in the past.. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
18 comments