Vietnam Vets Commemorate Wall's 25th Anniversary
posted 3:43 pm Thu November 08, 2007 - Washington
On the week leading up to the day, numerous ceremonies were taking place, including the reading aloud of all 58,000 names on the wall. Among the people taking turns to read every name on the wall is Vietnam veteran Stan Walkup. It was his first time visiting the memorial, but his connection, very deep, with too many of the names being familiar.
"Fifteen that I know of that were in my unit." He made a rubbing of Robert Boicourt's name. "I had the guy that I just scratched off a little bit ago, he died in my arms in '66. It's pretty pretty gut wrenching, you know."Three veterans from Louisiana spent time reading names and said their time at the podium provides comfort. "I had a sense of relief come over over. It's like a burden lifted from my shoulders." Another vet said, "reading those names makes it a lot easier and it makes you feel really good.
As for Stan, he said this is not his last visit. "I'm glad I came, glad I came out, probably come again."
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