The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Turns 25 Years Old

More than twenty-five years ago, Vietnam Veteran Jan Scruggs envisioned building a place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. where the nation might heal from the divisiveness and loss resulting from the Vietnam War and where Vietnam Veterans could be honored. Described as “elegantly simple” by designer Maya Lin, Jan Scruggs' dream and vision came to fruition in 1982. The black granite, V-shaped structure that has become known as “The Wall” lists the names of more than 58,000 Americans who were killed in Vietnam or are still listed as missing-in-action. Since its opening, millions of visitors have come to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor, reflect and heal.

Three VFW Post 5702 members, Frank DeFino, Jim McGinnis and Dave Solomita were present on November 11, 2007 as Americans celebrated the 25 th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

View photos from the trip

At The Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Bullets and battle.
Death and memorial.
Care-creased faces drawn near.
Time transcending currents flowing
through a shadowy, polished black sea.
A profound, pain-seared sea.

Friends and relations.
Ghosts and communion.
Echoes in pilgrims' pleas.
Reunions mystic and whispered
hover over a name-laden sea.
An eternal, black stone sea.

Love and grief.
Obligation and guilt.
Mementos and tears truth-filled.
Rippling memory tides crashing
through an unforgotten, long ago sea.
A fathomless, indelible sea.

Pencils and rubbings.
Message and meaning.
Travelers unburdened proceed.
Like tides, to return,
bound, to the sea.
A granite etched, ebon-faced sea

Doug “Doc” Neralich
36th Engineer Battalion
Vinh Long, Republic of Vietnam 1970 - 1971

If anyone would like to donate to our 2007/2008 projects it would be very helpful. This year we are raising money for the Fisher House Foundation at Walter Reed Hospital and for The Wounded Warrior Project.