Mark,

I visited the traveling Wall when it came to Ashland a couple of years ago. I found the name of my childhood playmate who died in 1970, and did a tracing of his name. He wasn't drafted; he actually quit high school to join up. He died the same month the rest of us graduated.

It was a highly emotional experience that revived my latent patriotism and motivated me to do more for local veterans organizations. Veterans of that particular war suffered both on the war front, as in all wars, and on the home front due to the division in the country.

With the current opposition to the war in Iraq, I think it is imperative that we separate our attitude toward the war from our attitude toward the (mostly) young men who are simply doing their Duty. Politicians make wars; soldiers just die or come home. When they come home, they bring enough emotional baggage without being blamed for policies beyond their control.

Anyone who goes needs to be prepared with lots of tissues. To say I was moved to tears would be a gross understatement.

This traveling memorial is a wonderful tool for all Americans to remember and contemplate their role in these United States of America. Vietnam War times were indeed complex. Many good people died physically. Many more died emotionally. I lost a good friend who served his tour of duty, but volunteered to return in his brother's stead. He fell on a granade to save his other commrades, came home with no limbs, suffered and died in Bethesda in his mother's arms weighing just 94 pounds. A true hero, of course. A tragic loss. Many more men had similar acts of heroism; some died, some survived. All of us must live with these losses.

All of us who lived through that war have strong feelings now, with this war. Anger still rages in some, sadness in others. I fall in the latter group. In the 60s I had mixed feelings for the war. If it was true that communism needed to be stopped there, then we needed to sacrifice our young men....how were we to know at age 16, 17, 18, 19, 54 what was the right thing to do? We had to rely on our politicians to make the correct decisions. Yet, there was my father who had fought in WWI. He was adamently against the war. Yep, someone over 30 who was anit-war. Even though he was a Nixon supporter--a die-hard Republican 'til he died, he knew the realities of wars and warmongers better than most. He had paid for a war with his body and health. He came home and dealt with the consequences. He knew there were secrets and lies that was driving the war. He said it didn't matter what the real reasons were, only that men were dying for the whims of the wealthy. At the time, I just thought he was expressing his jadedness. I was wrong.

Now, with this war, his words haunt me. Bob's five years of life in the jungles haunt me. In 1967 I did not protest. I believed & supported & was unsure. I watched my friends die. I listened to the old men complain about the hippies and their protests. I listened to the hype & I listened to the anti-war chants. I didn't know which way to move. I guess I was viewing the whole thing differently than everyone else. I looked at both sides as being patriotic. Those supporting the war were supporting freedom for all peoples. Those opposing the war were supporting bringing our generation back home. Both groups are villified then & yet to this day. Now, we're in another war which is eliciting the same emotions. Funny, I still view it the same way. I know now which side I fall on....experience and hindsight being my tools for discernment. I believe we must support our young men again as fervently as ever. I also join my voice with the protestors this time. It's my duty--our duty--as citizens to hold our officials to accountablity, in time of war or peace. But in time of war, it is particularly essential all voices be heard. This is the most patriotic thing we can do....flag waiving is just a flick of the wrist. Participating in citizenship is what's going to make a difference.

No matter how you feel about this war, keep it civil, but make your voice heard to your Representatives. Remind them clearly & firmly that they are your representatives in this government, and tell them what you want them to do. Make those who have sacrificed so very much for all of us proud. I encourage all who can, to visit this traveling memorial. It's not only an symbol honoring our Vietnam Vets. It's a reminder of the sacrifices and courage all our men and women have made for us and our children through all the wars. Show your children and your grandchildren. Don't let them forget.