At first there was no place for us to go until
someone put up that Black Granite Wall.
Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and
my Sisters wait to see the many people from
places afar file in front of this Wall.
Many stopping briefly and many for hours and
some that come on a regular basis.
It was hard at first, not that it's gotten any easier,
but it seems that many of the attitudes towards
that war that we were involved in have changed.
I can only pray that the ones on the other side
have learned something and more Walls as this one,
needn't be built.
Several members of my unit and many that I did
not recognize have called me to the Wall by
touching my name that is ingraved upon it.
The tears aren't necessary but are hard
even for me to hold back.
Don't feel guilty for not being with me, my Brothers.
This was my destiny as it is yours,
to be on that side of the Wall.
Touch the Wall, my Brothers, so that we
can share in the memories that we had.
I have learned to put the bad memories aside and
remember only the pleasant times that we had together.
Tell our other Brothers out there to come and visit me,
not to say Good Bye but to say Hello and be together again,
even for a short time and to ease
that pain of loss that we all share.
Today, an irresitable and loving call comes from the Wall.
As I approach I can see an elderly lady
and as I get closer I recognize her.......
It's Momma!
As much as I have looked forward to this day,
I have also regretted it because I didn't know
what reaction I would have.
Next to her, I suddenly see my wife and
immediately think how hard it must of been
for her to come to this place and my mind floods
with the pleasant memories of 30 years past.
There's a young man in a military uniform
standing with his arm around her......
My God!......It's has to be my son.
Look at him trying to be the man
without a tear in his eye.
I yearn to tell him how proud I am,
seeing him standing tall,
straight and proud in his uniform.
Momma comes closer and touches the Wall
and I feel the soft and gentle touch
I had not felt in so many years.
Dad has crossed to this side of the Wall
and through our touch, I try to convey to her
that Dad is doing fine and is no longer
suffering or feeling pain.
I see my wife's courage building as she sees
Momma touch the Wall and she approaches
and lays her hand on my waiting hand.
All the emotions, feelings and memories
of three decades past flash between our touch
and I tell her that it's alright.
Carry on with your life and don't worry about me......
I can see as I look into her eyes that she hears
and understands me and a big burden
has been lifted from her.
I watch as they lay flowers and
other memories of my past.
My lucky charm that was taken from me
and sent to her by my CO, a tattered and worn
teddy bear that I can barely remember having as
I grew up as a child and several medals that I had
earned and were presented to my wife.
One of them is the Combat Infantry Badge that I am very
proud of and I notice that my son is also wearing this medal.
I had earned mine in the jungles of Vietnam and he had
probably earned his in the deserts of Iraq. I can tell that
they are preparing to leave and I try to take a mental picture
of them together, because I don't know when I will see
them again. I wouldn't blame them if they were not to return
and can only thank them that I was not forgotten. My wife
and Momma near the Wall for one final touch and so many
years of undecision, fear and sorrow are let go.
As they turn to leave I feel my tears that had not
flowed for so many years, form as if dew drops
on the other side of the Wall.
They slowly move away with only a glance over their shoulder.
My son suddenly stops and slowly returns.
He stands straight and proud in front of me and snaps a salute.
Something makes him move to the Wall and he puts his
hand upon the Wall and touches my tears that had formed on
the face of the Wall and I can tell that he senses my presence
there and the pride and the love that I have for him.
He falls to his knees and the tears flow from his eyes
and I try my best to reassure him that it's alright and the tears
do not make him any less of a man. As he moves back wiping
the tears from his eyes, he silently mouths,
God Bless you, Dad......
God Bless, YOU, Son......
We WILL meet someday but in the meanwhile,
go on your way
......There is no hurry ......
There is no hurry at all.
As I see them walk off in the distance,
I yell out to THEM and EVERYONE there today,
as loud as I can,
.........THANKS FOR REMEMBERING
and as others on this side of the Wall join in,
I notice that the US Flag that so proudly flys
in front of us everyday, is flapping and standing proudly
straight out in the wind today.
.....THANK YOU ALL FOR REMEMBERING.....
~APVNV Pat (Beanie) Camunes~
