The Traveling Wall

[xgrunt]

[80% size of DC's has come to my hometown for the V-Day weekend. It's especially great due to the fact that this is the 20th Anniversary of the Wall in DC. it was dedicated Nov 11,1982. Danny[exgrunt,psyco-vet white oak] his wife Sandy and I made it our mission to rake and clean the front area where the wall was going. The city bush hogged that area and then it rained for 5 days on the grass. Really nasty looking. Here's some pix as we are working. As the weekend progresses I'll put more pics up. We raked and cut all day Wed. as thet were putting the wall up Thurs. Morning

[xgrunt]

I'm having trouble getting the pix up as Danny sent me them in a zip. file (4 pix at a atime) and I can't get them serarate so I can post one at a time. I spent Thursday working for most of the day working the name search computers and doing any thing that needs to be done. I'm having to wear my dark "Biker" shades as the Lt. says something keeps getting in my eyes. As I figuure out how I'll get pix to go along. My Dad,as a WWII POW will be in the ceremoney Monday, they wanted him to say a few words but he didn't want to so I'm drafted to tell his story. I'm terrified of public speaking but Pride in my Dad will see me thru.Welcome Home to all the Brothers and Sisters. Frank

[xgrunt]

Danny and Sandy while we were raking and cutting the grass. We raked for 8 hrs. I was beat but I had an real sense of inner satisfaction for the day,s work.

[DMZ-LT]

Can't thank you enough for preparing a site for our brothers and watching over them while they are in your town. Still walking slack - that old saying is true for me to - Never Forget. Thank you Frank and White Oak. Got something in my eye, again !

[Boats]

xgrunt,

When I saw the moving wall here in Chicago Heights, IL the visitation was done at night and it was very impacting. My wife and I were really taken back by the arrangement.

A few volunteer's where there to direct you to the books and how to look up the names. They also had a small box of flags and small aritifical flowers to lay at the wall areas of those friends and relatives whose passing meant so much.

We stayed about 1/2 hour and no one was talking. It was so quite you could hear the pages turning in the book. After we left and we sat in the car both my wife and I couldn't speak. It was about an hour later (now at home) she said I'm glad we went.

I afraid if I went to the one in Washington it would be too much of an impact for both of us. But we do plan to go there some day just don't know when.

I volunteered to stand guard at the wall but they said they had enough personnel but thank you.

[Arrow]

with you all...sis

[xgrunt]

32 yrs later. Site member exgrunt had his heart pinned on by General Mays,Alabama Air Guard Commander and former Nam Pilot during a ceremony at the Traveling Wall Veterans Day 2002.

[janecallanan]

It's beautiful.

[DMZ-LT]

White Oak looks better on that Road King , but still a great pic. Party soon ?

[xgrunt]

ceremony. my Dad was a Captured by the germans in Operation North Wind in Jan 45 and liberated in May 45. this was done at the Wall on Sat. of V-Day weekend. :cl: