Veterans Day at the travelling Vietnam Wall

Yesterday was Veterans Day. I want to say Thank You (which isn't really enough!) to all my fellow veterans, currently serving and throughout history. Sometimes I feel odd calling myself a veteran. Yes, I was in the Air Force for 6 years but the roughest things I faced were basic training and technical school! So, I give an extra special Thank You to those who fought so much harder through much greater hardships and for those who never made it back home.

Yesterday was also one of those cold, rainy, dreary days that November in Oregon typically has to offer. But, the travelling version of the Vietnam Veterans Wall was here in Portland on display and I wanted to see it. Despite the nasty weather it was obvious I was not alone as soon as I arrived.

The memorial is just beyond the line of sight.

I got lucky and found a parking spot about halfway down the line of cars. There were golf carts taking people back and forth but I had my umbrella so I walked up, taking my time to take it all in. It is 3/4 of the size of the actual monument in Washington D.C., but it seems so much bigger than its actual size. There are 58,261 names engraved on those massive panels, including 1200 who are missing in action. There really are no words for the things I felt looking at that wall so here are a few pictures. 

Until tomorrow!