They Aren't Heavy; They Are Our Brothers!
"Over fifty-eight thousand men live here," I think as I walk down the wall. It is a black wall, which shows my reflection and the reflections of the past. Some look at what I am looking at and all they see are names, but I see men, soldiers, and heroes. This is a resting place for many. It's a resting place for all the , hurt, regret, and guilt that the war left in the livings heart. It was the Vietnam War that took these men; this Wall is the Moving Wall or the Traveling Wall. It is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. It was built to remember those who died and those who were left behind.
I run my fingers across a name and chills run up my spine. He is here, touching my hand throught this black wall. I know He is here, I can feel Him, and I allow the tears to flow free. I stay here night and day, for almost a week. I am a volunteer, I help people find their loved ones, I keep guard at the Wall, and sometimes I sit by the watchfire (the fire is lit on the first day and burns continous through the last day). This Wall is a place of healing for those who lost someone, or simply for those who are hurting. There is a peace that is found at the Wall. A calmness that chills the bone. At night it is more like a cemetery, all is quiet and people can make amends and let go of the past. They can talk to their brothers one more time and they can say all that they have been keeping inside for the last twenty-five or more years. At night there is a different calmness, a different peace.
There are ceremonies during many days and occasionally at night. Last night we lit candles for all those missing form Oklahoma and for all the men and women who served their country. In total darkness over fifty men, Vietnam Veterans, stood in front of the Wall, each with a candle burning. Among those men stood four s, all under twenty-seven years old, I was one of them. Tears ran from all our eyes. Looking around it was magnificent. The emotion was overwhelming, the entire football stadium in Coweta, Oklahoma was filled with people and all I could see was flames. God Bless the USA began to play over the speakers. The crowd all rose to their feet, voices sang, and candles swayed. I choked back tears as I sang the words I will gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. I looked toward the sky for the remainder of the song, with tears flooding my eyes. I think to myself as I stand among these soldiers, how lucky I am to grow up in a country where so many boys were willing to fight and die to help free another nation and to keep our nation free. The lights came on, the candles went out, and we embraced one another.
Today, sadly enough is the last day the Wall will be here. It is time for the closing ceremonies, time to say goodbye again, and to make a vow to not forget. This time they play the song "He's Not Heavy; He's My Brother." The music sweeps through the crowd like fifty-eight thousand soldiers. Everyone is on their feet, some holding hands, some swaying to the music, some are singing, and some are crying. I am holding the hand of a soldier, a friend, and a hero. I look in his eyes, then I look toward the sky one more time, and I know we won't forget America's heroes, and we won't let our government forget them either. They aren't heavy; they are our brother!
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< This is a story that I wrote about one of my visits to the wall. The wall is a very wonderful place. I have never seen the real wall but some day I will. I encourage each of you to see the wall, not just see the wall, but live it. It is an unforgetable experience. I also encourage you to take a stand and fight to get all our P.O.W./M.I.A.s home. They deserve to be home, d*ad or alive, they should be here on American soil.
Thank you for taking the time to read this page and please visit the links on this page. ****************************************************< I would like to say "Thank You" and "Welcome Home" to every Veteran ads this page. Hopefully one day I will get to meet everyone one of you so that I may say these words in person. I won't forget what you and your Brothers and Sisters have sacraficed for me and our fellow Americans. With people like you in the U.S. I can proudly say that I am an American. Thank you again. ****************************************************
One Missing Vet
Twenty-four years and the flag still flies,
It is for all the P.O.W.s and M.I.A.s that were left behind.
They left their country to fight a winless fight,
They disappeared throughout the nights.
Some were KIA, but never recovered.
Some were captured and held as prisoners,
Never to be discovered.
Will they ever come home?
Nobody knows, but we will never lose hope,
And we will never forget,
As long as their is one missing vet! ****************************************************
Here are somethings you, as an individual can do to remember America's Heroes:
*Write our government officials.
*Get involved in organizations or start an organization with a patriotic theme.
*Help homeless veterans.
*Hug a Veteran.
*Tell a Veteran Thank You and Welcome Home.
*Create your own way to remember all of our
*Veterans, those who came home and those who didn't.
*Volunteer at Veteran events, such as the Moving Wall.
*Wear a P.O.W./M.I.A. bracelet.
*Take a stand, and fight to get our P.O.W./M.I.A.s home.
*Just Remember!
* Make a vow to yourself and to all those missing, to not forget. *They were forgotten once, don't let them be forgotten again.
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OR 
View
My Guestbook
My Favorite Web Sites
Floyd County Veterans
Poetry
Vietnam Poetry
Pentagon
Vietnam Veterans,GA
Remembering William D. McGonigle
taps
poetry
Vietanam Memorial Page
Personal Tribute
Vietnam Veterans
Homeless Veterans
Military Graphics
Reflect a Moment (christian poetry)
Quigley's Down Under
19th Combat Engineer Battalion
Operation Pressure
Operation Just Cause
American Veteran Search
Another Page Dedicated to POW/MIA William D. McGonigle
Wendy's tribute to William D McGonigle
William D. McGonigle PFC
