"The Wall"

Not only was it on my "bucket list" but it was also a very humbling, emotional, and unique visit to see "The Wall". It was humbling to see the 58,272 names of the soldiers killed in Viet Nam and to see the gifts left behind by friends, family, and even strangers. It was emotional for me to watch veterans of Viet Nam (many unable to walk) relive their days in uniform searching for the names of their comrades. What made it unique for me was being able to view it alongside two of my combat veteran friends (one whom I served overseas with). The next time you encounter a Viet Nam veteran, please be sure to walk up to them, shake their hand, and tell them "welcome home".

"Reflection"
We set out this morning for the two and a half hour drive to Washington DC in near perfect weather. As we neared closer to our nation's capitol however, the rain began to fall. It was almost as if the sky over DC was still mourning for our fallen brethren. The rain slowly drifted away, leaving cold gray skies. This in my mind was the lingering sadnees we all feel after a terrible loss once our tears have stopped falling. Here is an image from my visit to the Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial. I must admit that I was deeply moved more than once during this visit........... "You Are Not Forgotten