Betcha y’all didn’t know 317

[953 nut 70,185]

November 13, 1982, Near the end of a weeklong national salute to Americans who served in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site by thousands of veterans of the conflict. The long-awaited memorial was a simple V-shaped black-granite wall inscribed with the names of the 57,939 Americans who died in the conflict, arranged in order of death, not rank, as was common in other memorials.

[Beap52 2,519]

There was a portable Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall.  It is a half size version of the one in Washington D.C.  We were privileged to visit it when it was set up in a nearby town.  It was very humbling and a good number of folks got to experience it  who otherwise will never likely get to Washington D.C.  

 

I just googled it (AV Wall) and learned that one year ago (November 12, 2025) it was retired.  

 

We've been fortunate to visit the Washington D.C. memorial as well as the portable.  

[953 nut 70,185]

49 minutes ago, Beap52 said:

I just googled it (AV Wall) and learned that one year ago (November 12, 2025) it was retired.  

 

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Schedule features several confirmed 2027 appearance dates across the United States: 

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall has scheduled numerous stops across various U.S. states throughout 2027, including locations in Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Illinois. 

For a complete and up-to-date listing of all scheduled tour dates and locations, please consult the official {Link: Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Schedule https://www.travelingwall.us/schedule_of_appearances.htm?page=2027}. Additional stops for related exhibits can also be tracked via {Link: The Wall That Heals https://www.vvmf.org/The-Wall-That-Heals/}

[Handy Don 17,654]

I was draft-eligible near the end of the Vietnam War, but didn’t get called. People I knew were, though none are named on the wall, thankfully.

The Arlington, Leavenworth, Normandy American, and Gettysburg cemeteries come to mind but there are soldiers buried in every cemetery I’ve ever visited.

Sobering that we haven’t figured out a better way to solve differences. 

Edited 46 minutes ago by Handy Don

[953 nut 70,185]

When my military obligation was nearly endeding in 1969 a young officer on board our ship called me to officer's county to discuss my future in the US Navy. I told him in no uncertain terms that there was no way I would consider reenlistment while American men and women were being sent to Vietnam so the Chinese and Vietcong could use them as target practice.