The official sponsor was VFW Post 742, but when a community gets together and backs a project, this is what can happen.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1091875...eat=directlink

 

When the traveling wall was out in my area, I got to see it and also took some pics of it. I will say that it was rather impressive.

 

Been to DC, but couldn't bring myself to visit the Wall. This ever gets in my area, guess I should give it a try. 46 years, and some of those names still feel like a few days ago.

 

The wall was in Sandstone Mn. this weekend. Went to see it this morning. Very impressive although I do not know anyone that has there name on it. It still chokes me up just being close to it. The wall doesn't seem all that big as you walk up to it. But as you get closer and the names start to appear in focus it is just over whelming.

On a side note my oldest brother (by 16 years) was there in the army. To this day I have not heard him speak a word of being in the military let alone Vietnam. I have had my questions in the past but never thought the time was rite to bring it up. So I just let the subject rest and gave him his space. I always figured that if the time was rite he would bring it up and we could go from there.

 

That particular wall in Sandstone (there are several) was called The Moving Wall. From Sandstone it came south to the little town of Cleveland, Mn. My lady and I drove over from Marshall this past Sunday to see it. Although still impressive, the one we hosted, and another one that will be in Sturgis at the Buffalo Chip all next week, are more true to form in their design, with the center panels high, and both sides tapering down to the ground.

The one really nice thing, however, about the Moving Wall, is that you can see and read the names standing up, as they are all centered in the panels that are all the same height. I attached a couple of pictures I took Sunday. This one was half size, and the one we had here was 3/5th's in size, and they both were huge. I can't imagine the impact seeing the real one must have on people.

The one that came to our National PGR rallye had another display of dog tags from the KIA's of our current conflicts. That one was called The American Veterans Traveling Tribute. There's another one that will be at Sturgis next week called The Wall That Heals Traveling Wall.

Regardless of which Wall is in your area, don't hesitate to take the time to see it, and reflect on our cost of freedom.

 

At Cleveland, someone left a memory plaque of an entire group lost in one battalion.

 

Jeez, we just got some bad news. The guest speaker we had at our Traveling Wall dedication committed suicide last Friday.



http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sct...&pid=171902807

RIP, Mark.

 

Riding out of the North Texas PGR, by this time last year, I'd attended 25 missions due to suicide. I've tried not to keep track this year. We'll never know what demons some of us struggle with.

RIP Mark; you've stood your final watch. Well done, Patriot !

 

So sad ... Prayers on the way.

 

When the wall came to our area, we went to see it. Even though it was a replica, it was very impressive. The real one is even bigger!