A couple of years ago, I visited the Vietnam Memorial. I walked from the Holocaust Museum, past the Washington Monument, along the reflecting pool, and then past the Lincoln Memorial. When approaching the Vietnam Memorial, most people start from the left. The names engraved on the memorial are arranged according to when the servicemen died so you start at the beginning of the conflict. I didn’t think the monument would affect me; I thought it would just be a bit more sightseeing. However, as I approached the years when my father would have been in Vietnam, I could barely breathe. I realized that I am here because my father is not on the wall. It’s as simple as that. After a woman hugged me. I moved on but I haven’t forgotten.
This Memorial Day, please take a moment to remember the soldiers who didn’t come back and those who did.
Worth reading:
Scott Ott’s column at townhall.com — “We Left Our Youth on the Beach“.
Michelle Malkin has a compilation of Memorial Day items including Cox & Forkum and quotes from military members and their families.
