I visited The Wall today.

Actually, it is the traveling Wall. It visited Memphis this weekend, and I took my son and we went to see it. If you still don’t know what I am talking about, I am referring to the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. An inverted “V” with the names of over 57,000 of our best and brightest who never came home.

I used to have a copy of “Reflections” hanging in my hallway of my first home. Here is a picture of it:

This exactly how I felt when I saw the wall.

Here is how it looked this weekend at Memphis Memorial Gardens in Bartlett:

Here is a view from the other side

A close up of one of the panels.

A memorial in the same style of the 249 who did not return to Shelby County.

A memorial to those who are still missing:

The plaque on the table reads thus:

Missing Man Table

This dining area is reserves to honor our missing loved ones. Set for six, the empty places represents Americans still missing from each of the five services – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard – and civilians. This honors ceremony symbolizes that they are with us, here in spirit.

The Table is round- to show our everlasting concern for our missing men.

The Tablecloth is white-symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

The single red rose- displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and their loved ones and friends of these Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers.

The Vase- is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determinations to account for our missing.

A slice of lemon-on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.

A pinch of salt- symbolized the tears endured by those missing and their families who seed answers.

The Bible- represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.

The glass is inverted- to symbolize their inability to share this day’s toast.

The chairs are empty- they are missing.

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If you ever, ever, have the chance to visit The Wall, be it Traveling or the memorial in Washington, D.C, do so. These men and women answered the call of duty, and were put into an impossible situation, trying to achieve impossible objectives, while being hamstrung at the same time. With no public support, the continued to go and do so, while being called baby-killers by the Left.

Caught in a political war, our troops were not allowed to win. We fought a defensive war, and we all know what happens when you do that.

The next time you see someone wearing a Vietnam Service Medal, please stop, shake their hand and thank them for their service.