For those of you not familiar with the Wall Memorial, it has a listing of all the War Dead from the begining to the end. I also has a listing of the MIA's. I have personally seen the Memorial Wall in Washington DC. The Traveling wall is a replica of the Memorial and has a complete listing also. The caravan rolled imto town Tyes. evening and it was escorted by 1000 motorcyles. I was not able to get any pictures of thet. But I sis go to the fairgrounds to see it yesterday. This is a grest way for people to see the wall that can't get to Washington.
My dad, Michael Corcoran gave one of the dedication speeches at the opening of the wall in Washington, Dc on November 13th 1982. It was very special to him. My dad worked until his death in 1994 to make like better for Vietnam vets. He worked at the VA as a claims officer helping vets get benefits and worked with Matt Freeman to get Post Traumatic Stress Disorder recognized as a disability. He passes away from cancer in 1994 cause by his exposure to Agent Orange. He did not live long enough to see the moving wall. I have been to DC 6 times to see the wall. I always leave flowers and a picture collage at the year he was exposed to the chemical that eventually killed him.
It was at the Texas State Fair grounds a few years ago but we were not able to get down there to see it. Not sure I could handle the intensity of the emotions it would evoke tho.
I think it's a beautiful way to honour the soldiers. Even though I'm not American I'd probably be dissolved in tears just by seeing all the names.
I knew 3 or 4 of the people on it from being stationed with them. They were is a squadron that was aboard the USS Forestal when it had the fire. The ship was old and seemed to be a bad luck ship. I was on it for a short cruise years after the fire and it was in terrible shape. After the fire, it was always knick named the Forestfire.
Michele, God bless your dad and Matt Freeman for the work and time they gave to the vets. The traveling memorial was in Nacogdoches, TX about 3 years ago. I wasn't able to go see it at that time. Maybe it will be back this way some day. I know the emotions that it can invoke. My dad's name is on a monument in Jacksonville, TX. It honors all the men that were from Cherokee County, Texas that served and died in combat from the war of WW1, WW11,Korean and Vietnam.It was really touching to run my fingers over my dad's name. You see, I never got to meet him. He was killed 9 days after I was born. :'(
thanks captainkirk for the thread and the beautiful beautiful picture. the wall came to Spokane, 60 plus miles from us, this year, but we were unable to see it. we both have friends whose names are on it. my hubby and i give thanks gardenmama to all your dad and others have done to help vets. there is an online version of the wall here... http://thewall-usa.com/
