“Another year goes by when I get older, and you stay young.”
The Wall
A couple of years ago I went to Washington D.C with a dear friend. One of my favorite things about this trip was exploring all the museums (for free) and visiting The National Mall where many of the famous monuments and memorials are.
One that I will not forget was the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, commonly referred to as ‘The Wall.’ On the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. Many people travel to this wall to find the name of a loved one and some leave a letter or note underneath that special name.
Faceless
I think this was the part that moved my heart.
As you walk along the wall you see cards, envelopes, drawings, addressed to that one specific person on a wall of thousands.
It quickly becomes personal. It is no longer just inscription after inscription of faceless names. It is the boy you went to school with, played with. The boy you miss.
Etched in our heart
It was profound to walk along this wall and see the thousands of names and realize how many women and men gave their lives in war.
Something that happens at the wall is the etching of names.
The etching allows people to have a tangible reminder of that solider to take home with them. There are volunteers helping folks find that particular name and there is even an App to assist with the search.
A volunteer offered to open one of the cards for us. To be honest, I felt strange doing this, peeking in on a private conversation, but she assured us that this was done all the time. Simply profound. May we remember.
How to remember?
1. Send an email greeting to Canadian Forces women and men currently serving by clicking here.
2. And even better, contact your local military family resource centre, for details on sending a hand written letter or package to soldiers in overseas operations. For those in the U.S.A you can visit here for more information.
3. Set your alarm on your phone to go off at 11:00am on November the 11th, and no matter where you are, observe 1 minute of silence.
4. Use the back of an earring to keep your poppy from falling off or try these other ideas
Who do you think of this Remembrance (Veterans) Day?
How touching. The note, the wall, all the remembering. I lost my son almost 4 years ago and not a day goes by where I don’t remember. I really appreciate each and every person that puts their life on the line for my freedom.
Thanks for linking up to my weekly Bloglovin linky (http://www.journeysofthezoo.com/2013/11/bloglovin-hop-november14.html). I am a new bloglovin follower of yours and hope you make some new friends.
Besos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
http://www.bloglovin.com/journeysofthezoo
Hi Sarah, Your comment made me pause. As it should when we think of all who sacrifice their lives for our freedom. Thank you so much for sharing. I look forward to the mutual Bloglovin following.
Thank you for this. It is important.
Hi Kelly, thanks for taking a read, and I completely agree, it is so important.
Wonderful post and such an important message.
Thank you Elizabeth. So very important indeed!
We lived in the D.C. area as a young child and I have vague memories of the museums, the zoo, and the Wall. I would love to go back again as an adult now that I could appreciate it all, especially the Wall. Think like you I would feel strange reading a card or letter that someone had left there. Great post!
Hi there Heather, So glad you liked the post. Apparently all the cards left are opened and put on display somewhere close to the memorial (this might be under construction right now, not sure). Sure does make it real when you read them. I hope you get a chance to go back and visit D.C. some time soon. Lovely to meet you and thanks for stopping in.
Hi Barb – Love this post! Just FYI . . . . your “Homemade Sunshine” blog post is featured over on the Ruby blog for tomorrow. I’ll be promoting it and sending our friends over her to visit you ;o) I will get you a clickable button for the Ruby blog in case you want to post it on your blog so your readers know you are on the Ruby Guest Blogger Team. I’m thinking this would be a great post to feature on Monday, Veteran’s Day, so please let me know if that would be OK with you. Have a nice, relaxing, and peaceful evening! Nina
Hi Nina, So glad you like this post! And, yes, feel free to put up on Ruby blog on Monday, I am thrilled you think it would be of interest to your readers too. I will be sure to check out the blog tomorrow and thanks for sharing my blog with Ruby’s friends.
Great post! I hope I get to see “The Wall” some day. Makes it all so real I would imagine.
PS I especially like Tips #3 & 5.
A visit to ‘The Wall’ in an experience to be remembered. I loved Washington D.C so much I would go back in a heart beat as there are so many museums I did not have time for. Glad you found the tips helpful. I am off to buy yet another poppy and this time put an earring back on it! 😉
Barb, what a great post. The image of the card and the sentiment expressed was particularly powerful. Thank you for sharing and for pointing out, once again, the power of the pen, the etching, the engraving, the written word.
Be well
Hello there Dominique, Thank you for stopping in and leaving your thoughtful comment. The power of the pen indeed! Glad you enjoyed the post.