Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

One name - one soldier lost - is enough for a memorial.

4 more names added April 2013 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. THE WALL is also scheduled for washing ceremonies by various organizations on a regular basis. This I would love to participate in at some point. Tender loving care of an icon.

The wall was 30 years old 2012.

Touch the wall, it touches you. So much pain, loss, grief, no words describe the gut wrenching memories of an era of confusion. For survivors - the guilt - for loved ones who suffered loss - the emptiness, for those who were aware, but didn't serve, so many questions.

My first trip to THE WALL was in 1997. We had planned to do 2 or 3 days of memorials in the D.C. area on a 3 week vacation to the East Coast of the USA, then on to Nova Scotia. Two up on one motorcycle.

The 2nd day of our trip we had a wreck just outside D.C. in Fairfax, VA. After 3 weeks recuperating in the hospital I made arrangements for my husband to be transported, via wheelchair van, to the closest intersection to The Wall. This allowed me to roll him up to the path.

Our first viewing wasn't that memorable, because, just going the distance from the street to the path was too painful for him physically. We had to turn and go back to the waiting van as quickly and comfortably as possible. He hadn't healed enough for that trek.

6 years later, in 2003 we returned, each on our own motorcycles, having ridden 3,000 miles from Los Angeles, CA to Washington D.C., with a group called Run For The Wall.

They said we'd never ride a motorcycle again, now we are each on our own bikes.

This page is dedicated to the wives, husbands, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles, grandchildren and generations to come; all who have suffered loss due to the Vietnam War.

Those who observed from their living rooms, watching the war unfold on TV, and many who protested the war, those who served in Vietnam or other locations during that era, The Wall is for you. It reflects a hope and purpose: To leave a legacy for those who died, and bring a healing for those painful years.

We all say, "Welcome home," to those who survived.

"Thank you so much for the sacrifices each one of you made," to families of each of the names represented on The Wall.

To our veterans who never received that beautiful welcome home, they so deserved, America says, "Please forgive us."

The gentleman in the photo is a super friend who joined Run For The Wall several years back. He now serves on the Board of Directors. The Wall is an extremely emotional event, and an incredible opportunity for healing.

Very moving videos.

The Memorial was a vision of the charitable organization, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. Incorporated in April 1979, several Vietnam veterans led by Jan C. Scruggs, a wounded and decorated infantryman from Bowie, Maryland, began the process of funding, designing and presenting this memorial that has become known as The Wall.

The Wall Design Timeline

11/79 More than $8 million raised

07/80 Three acres designated by Congress

10/80 National Design Competition

03/81 Competition Deadline 1,421 entries

05/81 First Place to Maya Ying Lin

08/81 Builders and architect selected

03/82 Final Federal approval of plans

March 26, 1982 Official ground breaking

There are so many web pages that are dedicated to the memorial. I'll be adding links to some great places from time to time, and if you like you can add to the list below.

Web Pages listing more information.

An official statement from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) incorporated on April 27, 1979.

"By separating the issue of the service of the individual man and woman from the issue of the U.S. policy in Vietnam, VVMF hoped to begin a process of national reconciliation."

From the Web page Vietnam Veterans Memorial

I knew the black granite wall was being constructed back in the early 80's, and I knew about Rolling Thunder and Run For The Wall long before we decided to participate in these events. The wall has 58,272 names on it. The eighth ceremony unveiled 6 additional names in 2010.

It was designed as a result of a competition, and funded by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Maya Ying Lin who was born in the USA in 1959 designed the memorial. The criteria for the design as stated on the Wall Information Page of the Vietnam Memorial Web page called "thewall-usa.org"

What were the criteria required for the design?

1. Be reflective and contemplative in character;

2. harmonize with it's surroundings'

3. contain the names of those who had died in the conflict or who were still missing;

4. make no political statement about the war.

2,573 entrants were submitted in the competition for the design.

The visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial - The Wall were leaving memorabilia. The archived collection will be going into an Education Center and funds are currently being raised, with a ground breaking ceremony coming up November 2012 - 30 years after The Wall dedication.

Each year I have participated with Run For The Wall I've left a little something. It has become my tradition to leave a teddy bear since my road name is Sugarbear. This is a picture of my 2012 bear. He wears Run For The Wall pins from 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, a POW/MIA Pin, an lanyard that has RFTW beads, and one that's red/white and blue. And beads in the color of service ribbons.

I'm so looking forward to the day the Education Center opens.

It''s a book, out of doors."

The school children sense the "names rising up."

Other Google Doodles Here

See it from satellite.

Exactly one week before President John F Kennedy was assassinated.

Other featured stories and cover stories in these magazines on Amazon.

CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE

Lists many free meals offered to Veterans.

5 Days of the Reading of the Names

On November 11, 2012 there was a ceremony at 1:00 PM at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. It concluded the "Reading of the Names Ceremony" that began 5 days before Veteran's Day 2012, November 7th. This is only the 4th time the Reading of the Names Ceremony has occurred since 1982 when the Wall was dedicated.

It will take 65 hours to read all 58,,282 names.

This is my husband's vest, with all the patches he's earned through the years as a participant, riding in the event, and a volunteer in leadership. That's a lot of sewing, but it's worth it. In a few days we'll be adding a patch for 2012.

To the generation that crawled under their desks during air raid drills in elementary school;

To the generation that watched their President murdered, assassinated, shown on evening news;

To the generation called up by the draft, or voluntarily joining the service and sent to war;

To the generation of men and women who returned home, many completely misunderstood and rejected;

I say, "Welcome home!"

My heart goes out to each of you, please forgive the ones who didn't understand and were so opposed and outspoken. Receive your healing by visiting YOUR memorial, The Wall.

The ground breaking happened 30 years ago. Healing began. Reconciliation of a Nation.

Where can I get a bracelet?

POW/MIA Bracelets

We want to remember the Missing in Action, the Prisoners of War and the deceased. These are methods that help the healing begin.

This is a bracelet I've had since the 70's of a man named Robert W Stanley. His name is on the wall, I have his bracelet, and my first trip to The Wall on Run For The Wall, I got a rubbing of his name. He has family, he's from Portland Oregon, born 1941, died, the day he arrived in Vietnam, April 1, 1967. Heart breaking.

It changes you.

Experience the names,

the stark black reflective power of the slate,

stand in awe of the visitors who parade by.

Without a clue, seeing it as a marvelous structure,

wondering what all the fuss is about, pause, explain.

Listen to the Park Service Tour Guide as he defines an era.

Pause.

Legoland San Diego has a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Go to this link to see the article.

After 20 years of conventional ministry, 11 years of nonsense before that, we chose to step away from the "pulpit" and go to America's highways and byways to reach the lone lost riders traveling the journey touted as, "finding themselves." We have met and prayed with hundreds of motorcyclists (bikers) over the last 12 plus years, and love every minute of it.

Who do you know who served during the Vietnam War?