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Date Posted: Thu, February 03 2005, 11:27:12
Author: Jeff Northridge
Author Host/IP: 4.246.253.108
Subject: Re: Virtual Wall
In reply to: Joe 's message, "Virtual Wall" on Wed, February 02 2005, 13:10:00

Howdy Joe;

In addition to the Virtual Wall at http://www.virtualwall.org/ , there is also the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall at http://thewall-usa.com/ . Although there are quite a few names for which no one has left a tribute, there are also many for which someone has done so. Usually, the tributes are left by relatives, close friends, or buddies who served in the same outfit.

Except for relatives, it is unlikely that students, say in high school, will find much meaning in remembering the Vietnam War dead since they were born 10 to 15 years after the war was over. It is much more likely that they will be able to relate to the KIAs in the current conflicts in Afganistan and Iraq and from there can begin to appreciate and honor the sacrifices made by the servicemen and women in previous wars.

I can remember a wooden plaque honoring the alumni of my high school who died during World War II, but it didn't mean anything to me at the time. It was only after I had seen the "moving wall" fifteen years after the Vietnam War was over that the full impact of the debt of gratitude that we owe our military finally hit home. Seeing those 58,223 names all in one place and looking up the names of three of my buddies out of that sea of names brought tears to my eyes.

Students need something to relate to before they can appreciate the sacrifices made in the past in defence of the freedoms that they enjoy today. For them, Vietnam is ancient history just as World War I was for me when I was in high school.

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