Visitors reflect on memorial

Port Huron Times Herald - Port Huron, MI, USA

Visitors reflect on memorial

BY SHEILA D. YANCY
Times Herald
• July 25, 2008

ALGONAC -- Hundreds of people stood in the heat for a memorial ceremony Thursday afternoon for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall at Riverfront Park.

The Moving Wall has been touring the country for more than 20 years and has visited various cities and towns to provide an opportunity to pay homage to the more than 58,000 Vietnam Veterans who lost their lives in the conflict.

"The troops gave their last full measure so we could enjoy the freedom we have today," Major James Wisdom said.

The public will be able to view the wall 24 hours a day through Monday.

Sponsored by the Fred Quandt VFW post, the Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington DC.

Some of the activities included speeches by state and local dignitaries, the
laying of the "Wreath of Freedom" escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard and a flyover provided by the Air National Guard out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

"When you stand in front of the wall," said Jim Fernandez, Michigan VFW District 10 POW/MIA chairman, "you can look into another country across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without guns pointing back at each other."

One by one, people -- some with arms locked together -- approached the wall with a range of emotions.

Patricia Hill clutched a black picture frame as she searched for the name of her then 20-year-old brother. He was just a year-old in the picture.

"Sad," said the 66-year-old Shelby Township resident, as she wiped away tears with her fingers.

"Forty-nine years. You don't forget.

"He was only there 11 days, doing a mine sweep when it went off."

Jim Mihalich, 64, of Algonac said he had not yet come to grips with how he was feeling.

"It's hard," said an emotional Mihalich, who was a helicopter gunner. He spent two tours in Vietnam. "I have a friend I haven't seen in 44 years. I can't talk about it. I don't want to go there," he said.

"I didn't know it was going to be so emotional," said Timothy McEvoy, 62, who served in the Vietnam War as a sergeant.

"It's a beautiful tribute to those young men that did not come home."

About 4:50 p.m. during a rifle salute with a bagpiper slowly playing Taps, the mood turned somber.

At 5 p.m. two military planes flew overhead to cheers.

"The flyboys hit it on time," said Rich Wilhelm of the VFW.