I received an e-mail from an individual in records to a posting of military records that I made. This person's brother had died while serving in Vietnam. The below poem was forwarded to me a few months ago by a co-worker and I held onto it. I realize it is not genealogy related, but in memory of that person's brother and the other 58,000 plus names on the wall, I post it here now in dedication to my fellow brother and sister Vietnam Veterans. This will bring tears. George gebasden@worldnet.att.net http://www.basden.com > > If you've ever seen the painting "Reflections" of the Vietnam Wall in > > Washington, you've seen the man standing there with his hand on the > > wall, mourning his dead father or brother who was killed. What he > > doesn't see is the reflection from the other side showing that > > relative with HIS hand on the wall, touching the hand of his survivor. > > That painting inspired this story. > > > > FROM THE OTHER SIDE > > By Patrick Camunes > > > > "There are so many things that are written about the Wall but never > > anything of being on the other side. I was inspired by the picture > > Reflections that I use as wallpaper on my PC and a recent story, > > Autumn Wall." > > > > 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 engraved 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 irresistible 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...it > > 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 indecision, 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 flies in front of us everyday, is flapping and > > standing proudly straight out in the wind > > today..................................THANK YOU ALL FOR > > REMEMBERING......... > > >