1) the scope of the memorial itself...Its footprint was as large or larger than any of the other
300+ memorials I have visited, with the exception of The Wall in Washington D.C.
2) the completeness of the memorial...it was as if all the other memorials I have visited, each unique
in its own way, were synthesized into this one incredible display.
3) the amount of information it contained was impressive and not what can be found anywhere else in
my experience. Some of it is not so much wrong as incomplete and has been superseded by new
data unavailable at the time this memorial was installed.
4) it shamed me into a huge admission to myself...more on this in a minute.
Regarding #3, two things come to mind. The number of fallen from Vietnam, through ongoing research, has been revised to a figure of 58,256. In addition, included in my previous post, the "Dusty" credited with writing the beautiful poem "Hello David" has since been exposed as a fraud who is not a nurse, has never been in uniform or served in any capacity in Vietnam. As I also stated in that post, standing alone, it does not decrease it's overall truth one iota in my mind.
On a more personal note, I had a serious epiphany in the moment (as if there is any other kind). Over the long days of travel on this journey I have not always been in a great mental place. Especially after driving a hundred or more miles to see a plaque the size of a dinner plate on the side of a building, or something engraved on a small rock somewhere on the grounds of a library or other government building. While I have always considered all these memorials to be "sacred" and worthy of attention, sometimes it seemed the time, effort and cost of the trip was not always worth the outcome. A very selfish attitude. I still did a small prayer, sometimes seeming to be scaled to the size of the memorial, or the information present, or lack of it, attesting to the importance given to it by those who created it, rather than giving it the very best effort possible, or the most complete blessing. Of course this is a personal assessment and might be argued by witnesses.
What brought me up short in Rochester was the realization that these mini memorials were not mini due to the indifference or ineptitude of those behind it. I have no idea of the time frames available for their completion, the budget of the municipality or family (families) involved, the design and placement parameters and a hundred other considerations required of any public display, and any judgement I may have made, consciously or unconsciously, was at the very least inappropriate if not downright demeaning to the intent of that which drew me to the site in the first place.
I resolved upon leaving to never think like that again. Judge not, lest you be judged says the Book, and it is right on.
I want to leave you with another beautiful insight from the Garden of Reflection:
In the spirit of America, seize this place and this moment
to commemorate, to educate, and heal, and to remember all
who have served, now serve and will serve
this great country:
The United States of America.
REMEMBER
If you are able,
save for them a place
inside of you.
And save one backward glance
when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say that you loved them,
though you might not have always.
Take what they have left,
and what they have taught you
with their dying,
and keep it your own.
And in a time
when men decide and feel safe
to cal war insane.,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Thank you for this, Major Michael Davis O'Donnell, helicopter pilot
KIA March 24, 1970
See this article on our new website: http://vietnamveteransmemorialtour.org/last-add-rochester-i-promise/
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