WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |May 15, 2009 - "The Wall That Heals"
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Names--58,261 names of men and women who gave their lives. This is an exact half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. It's called "The Wall That Heals."
Former Marine and Vietnam veteran Bill Campbell says, "Without being able to feel the guilt, survivor's guilt, anymore, and being able to heal inside."
Campbell served in Vietnam from 1969 till 1970. He says the healing never ends. "We start getting helped through not having nightmares so much anymore if you visit the wall, and you talk to other veterans, and you start working these things out."
As much as healing the wall is a place of learning. One family--mom, dad and two daughters--visited the wall Thursday evening.
One of the vets told them, "The names on this wall represent the men that died in Vietnam."
"They're our family. We call them family, that's the brotherhood," added another Vietnam veteran.
To which Mom added, "These are people who have fought for you."
"There's only a short paragraph in the history books about it."
They stayed till after dark, which is okay. The wall is open 24 hours a day. There's always a veteran there to guide or instruct or comfort or just to leave you alone with your memories and your buddies.
Traveling with "The Wall That Heals" is a mobile museum which includes tributes left at the Vietnam Wall in Washington. And you can also meet "Gunny" Richard Lyons and see the POW/MIA Vietnam Tribute Bike. It's a souped-up 2002 Harley Electra-Glide. It's all on the west grounds of the Old State Capital through Sunday.
