War Memorial Touches Deeply

“They touched me,” said John Rice, of Post Falls, as he touched the names of fellow soldiers whose names are engraved in The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on display in Hayden. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

An emotion-choked crowd honored the service of veterans Friday at a traveling exhibit of the Vietnam Memorial Wall at Hayden City Park. Hundreds of people turned out for the opening ceremonies of The Wall That Heals, then stayed to browse through the names of more than 58,000 fallen and missing soldiers from the Vietnam conflict. John Rice knelt to touch the names of men he knew who died in the war. “They touched me,” the 65-year old Vietnam vet said simply. Like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the half-size traveling exhibit is designed to separate the controversy and anti-war protests over the long-running conflict in Southeast Asia from the sacrifices made by American soldiers/ Becky Kramer , SR. More here.

Question: Did you visit the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Hayden?