May 26, 2025 - Good Morning. It’s Monday, May 26.
It’s called The Wall. The official name is the Vietnam Memorial. It’s located beside the National Mall, a long V shape, made of black granite, one side pointing to the Lincoln Memorial, the other to the Washington Monument. Created in 1982, it attracts over three million visitors each year.
I have had the privilege, the honor, the blessing of visiting it several times. I love Washington D.C., and I enjoy all the monuments and museums. But the Vietnam Memorial is a singular, unique experience. The other attractions, although commemorating important American events and people, often have a “touristy” feel. But as visitors walk down into The Wall, they grow quiet - like coming into a cathedral. They see the 58,000 names of those who lost their lives in the war, etched into the black granite. And because the surface is polished, they also see a reflection of themselves. It is a sacred place.
It’s a rainy Memorial Day at my house in Tenaha, Texas. I don’t know what the weather’s like in our nation’s capital, but I know that, rain or shine, thousands will visit The Wall, remembering the true purpose of this day, remembering the fallen. Wherever you may be, take a moment to remember those who, as Abraham Lincoln put it, “gave the last full measure of devotion.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
