The Vietnam Wall

Prelude:

I went to DC with my parents when i was young- not quite 10 i don't think. My dad is a Vietnam vet and had lost his best friend Joe in the war. we went to the wall and it's the first (and only) time i saw my dad weep. He couldn't find Joe's name on the wall. I have always wanted to go back and do a name rubbing for my dad. I was invited to attend a business meeting in DC and when i learned that i would be flying out on September 17th, 2009 i started to research Joe. i found his information and discovered that the wall is organized by date of death. Joe died September 17, 1969. after more than 20 years of wanting to get back to the wall to find Joe's name for my dad destiny saw to it that i was there on the 40th anniversary of his death. I am having the rubbing framed and surprising my dad with it.

Part 1: early morning in the cab

I saw the sunrise from the sky with the city lights laid out beneath me- the juxtaposition of nature and invention left me feeling awed. as i head to the city's heart to make my personal peace with a history that was history before my birth i see raindrops on the windshield and am reminded of tears cried for heroes all over the world who give their lives for unexplained, mysterious reasons- we poetically call Liberties.

Part 2: pilgrimage on train and thru the Mall

I attempted to check into the hotel but was VIP so my room wasn't ready. they stowed my bags, bought me a coffee and directed me to the Metro station. I left at roughly 9am. I caught the train about 9:30 and the poster just inside the doors said "this is a GREAT MOMENT". I got teary eyed at that and had trouble maintaining composure. Got off train at Metro Center and was confused about which train and which direction. i took 15-20 minutes to figure it out and was on my way. I realized that i had been right all along. I got off the metro at the Smithsonian stop and found a map of the mall. I then got very emotional. I walked to the Washington Monument- WWII Memorial- Reflection Pond- Lincoln Memorial- arrived at the Vietnam Memorial at 10:50. I kneeled in front of panel 18W and found line 101. the last name on the right was the one i had been seeking for 20 years- I held a page to the wall and began to do my rubbing. a group of spanish women stopped to watch- the breeze kicked up blowing the corner of my page and one stepped forward to hold it down for me, I thanked her and in that moment we were connected. I lifted my pencil from the page and it began to rain lightly. what a magic moment- a humbling reminder of true reasons to complain- a 21 year old man lost his life to protect a country for a future that he wouldn't be a part of. I feel so blessed to be here and to have this story, to keep Joe's memory alive and to share.