Went to the (traveling) Vietnam Veterans Memorial today
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Went to the (traveling) Vietnam Veterans Memorial today
Hippyt | Saturday, September 14, 2002 - 08:12 pm     The traveling Memorial was in town today at the Houston National Cemetary,so I packed up the kids(2 and 5) and went to see. I had never been to the cemetary,it's absolutely beautiful,reminds me of the photos you see of the war cemetary in D.C. All the gravestones are lines up just like there,my 5 year old even commented on it.There is a Huge beautiful courtyard with a tall bell tower. They were reading the names of the Texans who died in Vietnam on the speakers. A man told me they had been reading them for about two hours,and they never even got close to the end while we were there. I went there because my Dad served in Vietnam,and only in recent years has he talked about it. I told my son all about it today,and when we got home we looked at old photos from back then. The Vets there were the Best,they latched onto the kids! One man put a helmet and flak jacket on my son,and had me take a photo. What he didn't know was I was taking photos of him while he was talking to my son.Some professional photographer took a photo of my daughter. I didn't leave there depressed. I just wanted to know a little more about my Dad,and what he went through. I don't think I've ever felt more welcome anywhere before.And,I think my son learned a little today too,about his GranDad. Thanks for reading..... |
Jan | Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 10:12 am     hippyt, I am so glad to hear that such things are finally being for the Vietnam vets. It must have been so heartbreaking for all the vets who came back and were treated like bums instead of heroes...not that I agreed with the war, because I didn't. But the vets just went where they were told and weren't to blame for the awful politics of it. The poor guys were damned if they moved to Canada to evade the draft, damned if they deserted and damned if they served. It was certainly a hellish era to live through. I am sure your father, one of the unrecognized heroes, has some horrific memories and I hope he has found peace with them.And I think it is great that you took his grandchildren so that they could see a part of his history. |
Car54 | Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 10:20 am     What a wonderful memory to give your kids, Hippy. Your dad will be proud that you took them. A lot of guys who went through Hell don't talk much, but it really shaped who they are today. I bet it was a wonderful day. You are a great Mom! |
Cjr | Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 10:24 am     Hippyt, I went to the Memorial Wall a few years back when it was in California. It definitely put the War in perspective for me. The vets that were there helping us figure it all out were wonderful to my sons and I also. They deserve to be honored. I don't remember the horrors of what the vets went through when they came home. I only remember hearing my parents praise them for what they went through. I remember vividly watching the POWs come home and my parents and I crying our eyes out knowing what hell these men went through. I think the Memorial Wall is a wonderful tribute. |
Hippyt | Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 03:45 pm     Thanks Car! What a nice thing to say! It was definitely a good experience. |
Goddessatlaw | Sunday, September 15, 2002 - 05:27 pm     I had the privilege last evening of spending some time with a commando who lost a leg in Afghanistan recently. During his despair over the uncertainty of his future and the pain of trying to process the horror of what had happened to him and his fellow commandos, several Vietnam veterans who were also amputees contacted him in the hospital to give him pep talks and advice designed to help him cope. 6 months after the event, this young man is fully rehabilitated with a prosthesis and is about to be reincorporated with his unit. Swims, runs, and is ready to get back out in the trenches. He speaks freely of his experience, and is so comfortable with his condition that he will take off his leg and hand it to you (which can get downright hilarious if you're not aware of his circumstances- he has absolutely no limp). The lessons of Vietnam, and the invaluable contributions of our veterans, just continue and continue. |
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