By Lulu

We attended a candlelight service at the Traveling Vietnam Wall that the American Legion Post 285 escorted to their Post in Edgewater for Biketoberfest. Having been many times to The Wall in D.C. and witnessed how emotional a trip to the wall is for all who visit, I was surprised how this replica affected us all. The evening started with presentation of colors, then candles were distributed to all, prayers and Taps followed. Many tears fell by those in attendance, tears cried for the lives lost. I mentioned this in my Pony Tales last month but certainly feel it is worth repeating as I was shocked by some of the numbers on a photo displayed there.
58,267 names are on the wall
39,996 were 22 or younger
8,283 were 19
33,103 were 18
12 were 17
5 were 16
1 was 15
3 sets of father & son are on the wall
31 parents lost two sons
997 were killed their 1st day in Vietnam
1, 448 were killed their LAST day in Vietnam
8 women are on the wall-nurses
As I read this, I thought those that died their first day at least didn’t have to endure the fear, the swamps, the torture, the loss of friends only to die on their last day before returning home. So, so tragic…and this my friends is the cost of protecting freedom!!!