A Minnesota PBS Initiative
The Wall
I am a songwriter who has the utmost respect for our veterans past and present for giving us the freedoms that we have. I am especially tied to Vietnam Vets for they are of my generation.
I had been to the Vietnam Wall in DC a number of years ago. I didn't know what to expect as far as how I would feel seeing it, I never gave it much thought at the time. It actually is quite simple. A long black wall shaped like a V that starts out low on the sides and gets high towards the middle where the two walls meet. It is a very shiny black stone with a little over 58,000 names carved onto it.
I can't imagine how hard it would be to have served in Nam and come to this place or know someone who is on The Wall.
A lot of people were there expressing a lot of different emotions and none of them joyous. There is no joy in seeing this memorial, only sadness and pain. Some folks are down on their knees, some touching The Wall, some doing rubbings of names and some folks just keeping a distance from The Wall.
I took it all in as I slowly walked along. Just seeing all those names one after another, 58,000 names, it choked me up and made me weep. The Wall does that to you and I don't even know anyone on The Wall. I can't imagine how hard it would be to have served in Nam and come to this place or know someone who is on The Wall.
I wrote a poem about The Wall that I have read at some veteran events called "The Wall". It is about a Vietnam veteran coming to The wall and seeing buddies names carved on the stone. He looks for a particular name who was a buddy and hero to him who saved his life. He puts his hand on the stone with so many emotionally thoughts of the war flooding his mind. He eventually takes out a paper and pencil and does a rubbing of this hero's name.
I also after some time decided to add a chorus and put this poem into a song. I have never sang the song anywhere to date but it is on my CD "Vietnam". May all those on The Wall Rest in Peace.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: Fargo, ND
Primary Location During Vietnam: Crookston, Mn, United States 
Story Subject: Civilian
The Wall
I walk along The Wall, tears fill my eyes
over 58,000 men and women, in Nam, they lost their lives
over 58,000 fellow Americans, they never made it home
over 58,000 buddies, their names carved on this stone
walking along The Wall, I drop down on my knees
I put my hand on that stone, on a name in front of me
I hold my hand on that stone, shaking and overwhelmed
if it wasn't for this hero, I'd never had made it home
with paper and with pencil, I rub out my buddies name
he died a hero, he died, and I was saved
I remember it like yesterday, can't leave the past behind
my name should be upon The Wall, not this buddy of mine
I walk along The Wall, tears fill my eyes
over 58,000 men and women, in Nam, they lost their lives
Story Themes: Art, Death and Loss, Memorial, Music, Poetry, Reflection, The Vietnam Memorial, The Vietnam Wall
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