The Vietnam Wall will bring a person to tears.

At least it brought me to tears. Ok, it wasn't the wall in D.C., but it was a traveling exhibit and it, as well as the ceremony they had with it brought me to tears. In fact, I actually had to calm down a bit before writing this. The somber service they had tonight focused on POW/MIA's and bringing them home. All five branches of the Service were represented and a rose was presented to the parents of a local soldier killed in Iraq. There was no political gradstanding by Liberals or conservatives. Just respect and gratitude for those who have given all. And people searching out names of loved ones and fellow warriors. I sincerely hope this shit in Iraq ends soon and we never forget those who served there, whether we agree with this occupation or not. Please bring our soldiers home safely and now. We do not want a wall as huge as the 'Nam wall for them. There have been too many deaths already. No more.

Of course cons hated the design because it didn't glorify the war enough.

seen, the soldiers look cold, wet and miserable...generally what soldiers in combat look like. No ramrod spined men on horses; nor wreathed heroic types can replace the feeling of loneliness and near certain death that a groundpounder can feel. They are heading into the maw know as war, doing what they have to do. You fight to make sure you survive, you survive by the courage and fortitude of those with you. You fight and die, not in glory, nor seeking a shiny bauble...you fight and die so that as many as possible can come home.

And when the broken bodies of heroes come home, no parade, no speech, no sleep can take from you the horror you have witnessed. You do not discuss it, because no one who wasn't there would understand, no one would or could feel what a combat vet can feel.

Sure, there is a sense of pride, but that does not negate the reality of having watched a bomber crew fall 10 feet from the sky, w/o one parachute to be seen. Nor does it negate the sound of a ship sliding under the waves, when you know there are fellow sailors still on board about to be crushed by pressures no one can comprehend, and you hear the ship being crushed beneath you as it heads toward the bottom. Nothing can take from the memory of a soldier in your lap asking for his mother with what little brain is left in his skull...and you shove from your mind the thought it could have been you, if you wee just inches to the left or right.

Memorials should make us remember the sacrifices other have made, and that sacrifice is usually only glorified by those who did not have to fight...:(

:patriot: