And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me

You live. You love. You cry. You lose. You bleed. You scream. You grieve. You choke. You laugh. You choose. You pray. You ask. You live. YOU LEARN.
___________________________________________

Ok so. I'm sure you've heard of the Vietnam Wall that they built in Washington DC, right? Well they have a "travelling wall" that's a replica and they take it all over the United States for people that might never make it to see the actual in DC. It's been to all 50 states and this is the second time its been to Ohio. People come from all over to see it.

If you don't know what the Vietnam Wall is, it's a simple explanation with a complicated meaning. The Vietnam Wall was created as a dedication memorial to all the men and women who died in Vietnam or are still missing. It's not everyone that served, just the ones who died and were never found. There are 58, 000 names on the wall. And that's just ONE war. Depressing.

Well my city requested the wall to come here and it did. From Thursday to today it was displayed in the town's main park. My grandma, aunt, and I went to see it yesterday. POWERFUL. I've seen the actual in DC and it blew me away. I mean, to read all of those names and to see the flowers and cards left there from families; it's so so sad. I think every single person cried. Both yesterday and when I went to the one in DC; including myself.

I hadn't planned on crying, seriously, I mean I'm a big sap but I didn't want to cry because I'd seen the one in DC and knew what it was about. Well plans change don't they? I was doing fine until we got about 1/4 of the way through and there was a picture with a note attached sitting against the wall. The lady in front of me bent down to read it and came up sobbing. That should've been my clue not to read it, but I did anyway. This is what it said, I couldn't finish reading, and this is as far as I got:

"Dear daddy, I'm all grown up now and I wish you would've been around to watch me grow. You have 3 beautiful grandchildren but no great-grandkids just yet. We all miss you terribly. Mom is in a nursing home now but she's doing alright..."

That's all I could read. Just like the woman in front of me, I came up sobbing. The note was attached to a picture of her dad.

There was another picture of two guys with their arms around eachother and the one guy was circled. It said above his head, "He was my best friend." :( gave me chills.

At the top of the wall it reads:

"In honor of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States who served in the Vietnam war. The names of those who gave their lives and of those who remain missing are inscribed in the order they were taken from us."

I never knew that. I knew they weren't in alphabetical order and so I couldn't figure out WHAT order they were in. In the order they were killed. Interesting :(

The picture posted below of the POW/MIA table, the framed letter says this:

"This table, set for one, is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner, alone against his or her suppressors.
The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms.
The single red rose in the vase, signifies the blood they many have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of America. This rose also reminds us of the family and friends of our missing comrades who keep the faith, while awaiting their return.
The yellow ribbon on the vase represents the yellow ribbons worn on the lapels of the thousands who demand with unyielding determination a proper accounting of our comrades who are not among us tonight.
A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate.
The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.
The glass is inverted - they cannot toast with us this night.
The chair is empty - they are not here.
The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation.
Let us pray to the supreme commander that all of our comrades will soon be back within our ranks.
Let us remember and never forget their sacrifices.
May god forever watch over them and protect them and their families."

I'll post the picture but in case you can't read what it says I'll go ahead and type it. This was a poster sized, framed poem at one of the booths:

"Take a man, put him alone
Put him 12, 000 miles from his home
Empty his heart, of all but blood
Make him live, in sweat and mud
This is the life, I have to live
This is the soul, to the devil I give

You have your parties and drink your beer
While young men are dying over here
Plant your signs on the White House lawn
'Let's get the hell out of Vietnam'
Carry your signs, and have your fun
Then refuse to carry a gun
There's nothing else for you to do
I guess I'M supposed to die for YOU

There's one thing that you should know
This is where I think you should go
I'm already here, and it's too late
I've traded my love, just for hate
I'll hate you till the day I die
You made me hear my buddy cry

I saw his leg and his blood shed
I heard them say, 'this one's dead'
It was a larger price for him to pay
To let you live another day
He had the guts to fight and die
To keep the freedom you live by

By his dying, your life he buys
But who gives a damn, if a 'grunt' dies?"
Found on the body of a dead Marine, Vietnam June 7, 1969.

Breathe that one in for a while...

...xoxo

Here are some of the pictures I took:

What it says on the wall:

Walking through:

The American flag hung up above the trees by a crane:

It meant more in black and white:

Here's the poem I typed:

They put the POW in these cages in Vietnam. Yeah, that's right, American soldiers were chained inside these cages like abused animals:

The POW/MIA table:

The whole thing:

Wow. This picture took on a new life in b&w:


I knew a man called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free

I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man

Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died, America can't you see

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all