A very powerful image...

[ethiostar]

... to me, at least. I don't get deeply affected by a lot of paintings but this one gave me chills when I saw it.

This is the first time i've seen this painting. I saw it hanging in the office of the IT guy I went to visit today about computer issues I was having at work. I'm sure some of you are already familiar with it.

 

[5Stars]

When I was in DC I went to the wall and found my childhood friend, Fedrick Herra who is MIA...and believe me, as a grown man, I cried my eyes out.

 

[trickblue]

... to me, at least. I don't get deeply affected by a lot of paintings but this one gave me chills when I saw it.

This is the first time i've seen this painting. I saw it hanging in the office of the IT guy I went to visit today about computer issues I was having at work. I'm sure some of you are already familiar with it.

http://www.leeteter.com/asp/originalart/images/2_1.jpg

There are a few like that around... and they are very powerful...

Regardless of political sides, many of these guys came home to hostilities towards them they didn't deserve...

They didn't start the war, they did their jobs... no need for the malice...

If you ever go there it is heartbreaking. The memorial is not in alphabetical order, but rather in order killed. They have booklets on where to find names as well as counselors there to help with the grief of those who visit...

I've been there 3-4 times and I always see a VN vet there crying while touching a name...

Powerful stuff...

 

[Aikmaniac]

I visited with my dad (Vietnam Vet - Army) about 10 years ago or so. It was the first time I'd seen him at a loss for words. Tore me up inside.

 

[trickblue]

I visited with my dad (Vietnam Vet - Army) about 10 years ago or so. It was the first time I'd seen him at a loss for words. Tore me up inside.

It is THE most heart-wrenching memorial in DC that there is...

 

[casmith07]

Took my grandfather there in the 90s - he served two tours, one as a Platoon Leader and another as a Rifle Company Commander.

He found the names of the two Soldiers he didn't bring home, and didn't say as much as two words the rest of the day.

I both love and hate that memorial. It's a weird dynamic that I'm sure all of you understand.

They also have a pretty amazing Vietnam exhibit at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA. We took him to the restaurant on site there for his birthday, and he really enjoyed all of the different historical exhibits and enjoyed seeing all of the new tech that the Infantry uses today.

He refused, however, to set foot anywhere near the Vietnam exhibit.

I'm sure he has so many stories, and other things, and with him getting old it really hurts me inside that I might not ever know what happened.

Someone randomly sent my family this video on YouTube a few years back. Chokes me up every time I watch it. Guess who that is in the video?

[youtube]l2bChg3y8PA[/youtube]

 

[trickblue]

Took my grandfather there in the 90s - he served two tours, one as a Platoon Leader and another as a Rifle Company Commander.

He found the names of the two Soldiers he didn't bring home, and didn't say as much as two words the rest of the day.

I both love and hate that memorial. It's a weird dynamic that I'm sure all of you understand.

They also have a pretty amazing Vietnam exhibit at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, GA. We took him to the restaurant on site there for his birthday, and he really enjoyed all of the different historical exhibits and enjoyed seeing all of the new tech that the Infantry uses today.

He refused, however, to set foot anywhere near the Vietnam exhibit.

I'm sure he has so many stories, and other things, and with him getting old it really hurts me inside that I might not ever know what happened.

Someone randomly sent my family this video on YouTube a few years back. Chokes me up every time I watch it. Guess who that is in the video?

[youtube]l2bChg3y8PA[/youtube]

I've known Jan Scruggs for years... he started the memorial...

He was very wary about getting the project started. The last thing he wanted involved was politics...

It evolved into that... and he was devastated it did...

It's a BEAUTIFUL memorial and should be no part of politics...

Soldiers lost there lives fighting for something they were told to do...

Respect that... bottom line...

 

[casmith07]

I've known Jan Scruggs for years... he started the memorial...

He was very wary about getting the project started. The last thing he wanted involved was politics...

It evolved into that... and he was devastated it did...

It's a BEAUTIFUL memorial and should be no part of politics...

Soldiers lost there lives fighting for something they were told to do...

Respect that... bottom line...

Absolutely. I love it for what it represents, but hate that it's so sad.

 

[Phoenix]

Yes, wonderful memorial it is. Went there not long ago and snapped a few pics...that is where I took my flag picture also

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/VietnamMemorial-longrange.jpg

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/VietnamMemorial.jpg

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/ReflectionofmetakingpicofVietnamMemorial.jpg

http://i46.***BLOCKED***/albums/f131/vsmith23/AmericanFlagbyVietnamMemorial.jpg

 

[Vtwin]

I've been to DC once and the Memorial most definitely gives a perspective to the loss that just reading the number never could.

The Korean War Memorial was equally as poignant for me. It was a very foggy springtime evening. We approached from the front and the soldiers began to appear out of the fog from maybe 50 feet away. The image of those men literally appearing out of nowhere, trudging along carrying their wounded with the war weary expressions, has stuck with me ever since.

 

[rocboy22]

I haven't been there in 15 years. Do they still allow people to "trace/rub" the names? Like put a peice of paper over it and rub a crayon or something to copy the engraving?

 

[Phoenix]

I haven't been there in 15 years. Do they still allow people to "trace/rub" the names? Like put a peice of paper over it and rub a crayon or something to copy the engraving?

I would think so. I never saw anyone there stopping anyone from doing anything, and you can walk right up to the walls...

 

[rocboy22]

I would think so. I never saw anyone there stopping anyone from doing anything, and you can walk right up to the walls...

yea, I would think so, too. Just haven't been there in so long I wondered if they had made any changes like that

 

[CoCo]

It's stunning to me, the variety of experiences those who've walked this earth have had.