Gone but not forgotten
To many, it is just a wall. But for some people the Vietnam Wall monument is a moment frozen in history, a moment when loved ones sacrificed their lives for their country and its people. A small name carved into stone but a huge part remains carved in our hearts and history.
Many have not been able to travel all the way to Washington D.C. to see and pay tribute at the Vietnam Veterans wall itself, so it came to Cache Valley for the week. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute is a privately owned foundation that travels every weekend all over the United States sharing with people, the replica of the Vietnam Wall that is in Washington D.C. In total there are seven walls that travel, the one that came to the Cache County Fair Grounds is eighty percent of the actual size of the real monument. The wall is eight and a half feet high at its tallest point. In total the wall is 372 feet long. The names of 58,257 brave souls cover every single space on it. Also on tour with this monument replica is the Gold Dog Tag Tribute. This is a display for every American killed since Vietnam, those who lost their lives on or since 9/11, those involved in the Fort Hood Massacre, Firefighters, Law Enforcement and EMT’S who have given their all in service to others. These displays also have a timeline of war events dating back to the Revolutionary War up through the present day. They include the men and women who served, anyone who was wounded, and any who were killed during this time. Wednesday of this week the wall arrived with the other displays. The wall was escorted from Ogden on route to Logan by motorcyclists. The escort by these patriotic citizens was over a mile long with a 115 motorcycles in the procession. The week of The Celebration of Freedom began Tuesday with the Field of Flags. The west side of the fair grounds was covered with an ocean of red white and blue. All together there were 1,683 flags. Each flag represented an American who is still missing in South East Asia. An opening ceremony for the wall began by a having a Native American spiritual leader give a blessing in behalf of the Vietnam Veteran Wall replica.
The man responsible for this empowering event was Dan Gyllenskog. This monument touches close to home for Dan because he is a Vietnam Veteran himself from the first Marine Corp. When asked about his connection with the wall Dan said, “I have several people on the wall that I know. I have three very close friends on panel 31W, it wasn’t my time or else I’d be there. I should be with them down there. They all got killed the same night. I was wounded on the 23rd of February 1969, but He had something else for me to do, and this was one of them, to make sure they get honored.”
The rest of the week had special tribute programs every night. These included a flag retirement ceremony by The Boy Scouts of America from the 345th Troop. The boys that retired the flag were, Hayden McMullen, Andrew Skabelund, Jared Skabelund, Adam Hullinger, Tanner Teeples, and Dustin Peterson. There was also a POW Program, Vietnam Welcome Home Day and a motorcycle Ride of Honor which included saluting at the wall. On Sunday there was also a nondenominational church service and a tribute to all Law Enforcement, Firefighters and EMT’S that have ever served. Stories of Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty were shared as well as a moment of silence and respect for those who gave everything. All give some, but some give all was a common theme among these men in this line of duty.
Let the story of America be remembered forever as this wall stands carved and covered with the loved ones of this great nation. Because in valor there is hope, let us keep these souls graven on our hearts in gratitude and honor, just as each name, is engraved on the Vietnam Veteran Wall.